For as long as anyone familiar with the Yorkton Farmer鈥檚 Market can remember, Lorraine Sully has been a fixture.
Before she became the market鈥檚 manager, Sully was a vendor. Her husband ran a commercial egg operation just south of the city. They would come in and sell eggs. When they sold the farm, she took over the operations of the Farmer鈥檚 Market.
That was 1980, when the market was still held at the Agri-Pavillion. After that it operated out of the curling rink at Gallagher Centre briefly, but it was ultimately too small and they moved to the Parkland Mall in 1995.
Now, after 37 years, Sully is retiring.
Bob Purton, current president of the market said what made Sully a great manager of the market was a combination of excellent organization, a 鈥渧ery pleasant personality鈥� and firmness when required.
鈥淪he鈥檚 been an excellent person to work with, and a great resource,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to miss her, for sure. She is a wonderful individual.鈥�
Sully herself is a reluctant subject for the publicity of a newspaper article, something Purton attributes to a humble nature.
She did say that managing the market sometimes meant putting personal plans aside, but now she鈥檚 ready to pack up the motor home and do some serious traveling.
Reflecting the last four decades, she is unequivocal about what was most rewarding about her job.
鈥淭he vendors,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he vendors are a very nice group of people. We鈥檙e just like a family here. I鈥檝e really enjoyed it.鈥�
The feeling is mutual according to Marian Smart, who has been selling baking, canned goods, jams, jellies and other homemade goodies at the market for 35 years.
鈥淪he was a super coordinator,鈥� Smart said. 鈥淲e enjoyed having her and we hate to see her go.鈥�
