Jul. 23—TOWN OF AMNICON — On the road between the villages of Poplar and Lake Nebagamon, a farmers market brings people together every Tuesday at the Gravel Pit Tavern on County Road P.
“It’s just fun, you know, and it’s been a great way for us, new to the community, you know, to meet people,” said Jill Burke of Brule, who sells smoked pistachios. “Everybody’s kind of connected and it’s just been, I just can’t say enough about it. It’s just awesome.”
She started her Jill’s Nuts brand with a mission: To buy a tractor for her husband Pat. Her first day at the Gravel Pit farmers market was June 6, and she enjoys the Tuesday get-togethers.
“Sell a few nuts, have some fun with the gals. You know it’s great. Gets you out of the house, fresh air, and so far it’s just been perfect every week,” Burke said.
For Arianna Silverness of Maple, a fourth generation farmer, running the Silver and Sage stand is a chance to reconnect with her roots.
“Farming makes me happy,” said Silverness, whose stand Tuesday offered pasture-raised pork, laser-engraved tumblers, custom T-shirts, maple syrup, apple butter and beeswax lip balm.
She and husband Devon have three children, two dogs, four ducks, eight pigs and 37 chickens on their 20-acre farm.
“It’s a lot of work, but at the end of the day, you know, I feel good about what I’ve done,” Silverness said.
This is the first year she’s sold goods at the Gravel Pit Tavern market, which runs 2-6 p.m. every Tuesday.
“It’s been really cool getting to know all these ladies and see the different things that they have and, you know, some of them have been doing the market for years, so just kind of learning from them. And honestly, the socialization and conversation’s always really great,” Silverness said.
For retired sisters Robin and Penny Barrett of Barrett’s Farm, raising garden produce and selling it gives them something fun to do. Their parents sold produce at the Superior farmers market for years.
“We thought about it and we thought well, sure, why not try it and we’re finally starting to have some garden things,” said Robin Barrett of Solon Springs.
They started by selling perennials and baked goods. On July 16 their stock included fresh raspberries, green onions and molasses cookies. As the season progresses, they’ll add potatoes, tomatoes, beets and other vegetables to their stand.
New food truck
The South Ranger food truck served up tacos, mozzarella sticks, fries and a bluegill sandwich at the Gravel Pit Tavern during the July 16 market. Owned by Katie and Larry Harness of South Range, the new business aims to deliver good food at an affordable price.
The eclectic menu includes a touch of supper club. Katie Harness spent five years cooking at Eddie’s Supper Club under former owner Dina Ryan. Now Ryan works for the South Ranger.
“I fell in love with supper clubs and cooking and really the customers around here are the best,” Harness said.
When initial plans for a brick and mortar restaurant didn’t work out, Harness decided to bring her signature recipes on the road. Their first event was at KG Fireworks Warehouse in the town of Amnicon the week of July 4.
“We just missed cooking and missed our customers and we really want to represent the Wisconsin side and use Wisconsin food, doing specialty fish fries, Wisconsin cheeses,” Harness said.
Market vendors called the South Ranger fare “amazing.”
“We tried their fries, their potato wedges, amazing,” Silverness said. “Me and my kids sat down and ate the whole basket in like a couple minutes.”
Shopping local
The farm, food and craft market was launched last year under the Gravel Pit Tavern’s new owners, Dede and Troy Paquette of Barnes.
“My husband has always wanted a bar and a restaurant,” said Dede Paquette, and the chance to own the bar came at a good time for them.
The Tuesday market and food truck bring the community together and give visitors a food option until the Paquettes can add a kitchen to the tavern.
“We just like to do activities that are fun for a lot of different kinds of people , so we’re looking to bring young and old, everybody, together because this community is close-knit,” Paquette said.
Terri Nelson of Highland has been offering jams, jellies and pickled food at the farmers market since July 2023.
“I came here just to shop and they talked me into coming back and selling,” she said.
She’s since launched a weekly farmers market at Solon Springs Mercantile, which includes many of the same vendors. It runs 1-5 p.m. Thursdays at the Solon Springs Mercantile.
People are encouraged to stop by to shop and socialize.
“You’re supporting a mom and pop business who grew it out of the ground .. it was grown in Maple, it was grown in Solon, it was grown in Brule,” Silverness said.
Visit the
Gravel Pit Tavern Facebook page
for more information about its market. Visit
the South Ranger Facebook Page
for more information on the new food truck.
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
