Huntingdon Farmer’s Market Honours Howard Welburn
On the Wednesday of September 21st, the Huntingdon Farmers' Market (Marché Fermier du Comté de Huntingdon) commemorated founding member Howard Welburn with a symbolic children’s relay around Prince-Arthur Park.
The event, which was originally planned as a thank you to Mr. Welburn, was inspired by Terry Fox, a young man who, like Mr. Welburn, lost his life to cancer. In honour of Mr. Welburn, locals took to walking the outskirts of the park on Wednesday evening. Many visitors also made freewill donations in honour of the Huntingdon resident, raising just over $300 (to date)—the total of which will be donated to SABEC, a non-profit dedicated to providing transportation to cancer patients. A founding Farmer’s Market member, Esther Cavanagh, baked cookies to give to those who made donations over $2.
Using two batons (a carrot and a zucchini, of course), approximately 25 people participated in the relay race, with a notable number of children taking to the track. Mr. Welburn’s family was also present. “It meant a lot to him,” said his wife, Lois, of her husband’s relationship with the market. Inspired by the Farmer’s Market in Oswego, New York, Mr. Welburn spearheaded the movement behind the establishment of the Huntingdon Farmer’s Market eleven years ago. Born and raised in Huntingdon, Mr. Welburn owned and operated a garage, H. Welburn et Fils from 1987 until October 5th, 2015. Despite his busy schedule and later, his illness, he served on the Farmer’s Market board of administrators for eleven years, without ever missing a meeting—even acting as the market’s vice president for a time.
Farmer’s Market coordinator Ian Ward felt that the memorial was a great way to give people in the community a chance to show their support for the Welburn family, and at the same time, help out a great cause. “We just wanted to commemorate Howard,” Ward explained.
The board of administrators will be presenting their donation to SABEC at Huntingdon Farmer’s Market on Wednesday, September 28th.