2023 John Relk Memorial Scholarship Winners Announced Soon!
The Relk Memorial Scholarship was instituted as a memorial to the Market’s founders, John and Afine Relk.
John Relk was a math, chemistry and physics teacher at a variety of schools throughout the community. He was also a part-time farmer and dairyman – always enjoying plants, trees and gardening.
John founded the Nampa Farmers Market in 1989 with his wife Afine. They had a vision. They saw a community market which provided local food and products made by friends and neighbors. They modeled their idea of a local farmers market on what Afine had experienced at farmers markets in the Netherlands. They enjoyed being able to share their excess produce and eventually combine it with many other local vendors to provide a weekly Saturday market that the Nampa community has come to enjoy and appreciate.
Before John passed away, he expressed a great desire to teach and encourage young people to grow a garden and to sell what they grow at the farmers market. The Board of Directors of the Nampa Farmers Market initiated this scholarship to fulfill his vision.