Valerie Karsjen’s love of Grant prompted idea for flea market

By Becky Uehling

Grant Tribune-Sentinel

Ogallala resident Valerie Karsjens travels to Grant every day for her job with Home Instead Senior Care Services, and she has fallen in love with the town. So much so that she is helping to start the Grant Farmer, Flea & Craft Market starting June 21. Assisting Karsjens is DeeAnn Tatum of Grant. 

“Grant is such a beautiful, friendly community,” Valerie said.

Time Spent in Grant

Valerie said she and her family, which includes son Joshua, daughter-in-law Julie and her three grandchildren, spend more time in Grant than they do Ogallala. 

“When we come to Grant, we make a whole day out of it,” she said. “You have an awesome pool and park, and great businesses. The 4th of July celebration and the fair are also awesome.”

Valerie and Julie have been selling their homemade baked goods now for the past several years at the Ogallala Farmer’s Market. Their business, All for 3 Bakery, was a way for the two ladies to make money to help send the three Karsjen grandkids to a Christian school in Ogallala. 

Because of her love of the Grant community, Valerie thought it would be great if she had a place to sell her baked goods here. She asked the moderator of the Perkins County Facebook page, Tatum, if a similar market existed, and DeeAnn said currently there wasn’t a venue. 

“And then things just started falling together and moving fast,” Valerie said. 

Valerie created a Facebook page to gauge interest in the idea on May 21. Before she knew it, she had 143 members on the page, interested in becoming a vendor or just the market itself, and it is still growing, she said.

Finding a Location 

With DeeAnn’s help, a location was found at Noel Bullock’s car lot on north Central Ave. Bullock also had several good ideas for the market, she said. 

Karsjens said the market is for everyone—from home businesses, to brick and mortar businesses, to flea markets, to food trucks. Everyone is welcome for no fee.

“We wanted it to be free to everyone,” she said. “It is a way to promote the local community, help out small businesses, and just a way to have fun.”

Karsjens hopes the market, which will run every Wednesday from 4-6:30 p.m., will grow, attracting vendors from near and far. 

Karsjens said people can find out more about the market, and also sign up to be a vendor, on Facebook at the Grant Farmer, Flea & Craft Vendors page and the public page at Grant Farmer, Flea & Craft Market.Those with ideas are asked to reach out to Karsjens or to Tatum.