Joy Hampton, public information officer for Cleveland County, credits Norman Farm Market manager Kate Cooper with putting new life into an already thriving and established farm market through leveraging partnerships and increasing community engagement.
“From hosting blood drives and story time for kids with Cleveland County deputies, to cooking demonstrations, a partnership with Loveworks for young entrepreneurs to present their wares at the market (Business Boot Up), Kate has made the Norman Farm Market one of the most engaging experiences in the state,” Joy said.
“She books live music and works with the vendors association to set up special events like Donuts with Dad for Father’s Day and Free Floats for Independence Day,” she added, noting that Kate also has strengthened the partnership with the Oklahoma State University Extension Office through ongoing classes and other educational opportunities.
“Kate understands that people want more than just plants and produce at a farm market,” Joy said. “Time is precious, with busy lifestyles limiting opportunities for family time, so making the Norman Farm Market an opportunity for quality experiences and family fun while also shopping for fresh foods, including hormone-free meat and eggs, Kate provides an enticing package that draws people from all walks of life. Her series of Vendor Spotlight videos takes the public to the farms who supply our market, showing people the care and quality that go into the products sold at the Norman Farm Market. She is always trying fresh ideas with highlighting the vendors and engaging the community in mind. She has a heart for farming and for bringing appreciation to farm culture and the value of our small, local farmers.”
“Kate Cooper hit the ground running when we hired her as the Norman Farm Market manager,” added Cleveland County Commissioner Darry Stacy. “She’s personally invested in our local farming community and in the success of the market. Kate’s personal experience and love for farming and her commitment to raising her children to appreciate how their food is grown contributes to her ability to do her job well. She’s been a tireless worker and is one of the behind the scenes heroes of Cleveland County.”
Name: Kate Cooper
Employer & Title: Manager, Cleveland County’s Norman Farm Market
An entrepreneur at heart, Kate Cooper moved from Colorado to Oklahoma with her three children in 2016 to start a small farm. While she was growing her farm, Kate was also growing her local farm market—where she discovered her passion for helping small farmers feed the state with sustainable, ethically produced foods. She began managing the Norman Farm Market in 2020. Kate holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is working on her master’s degree in counseling, with the hope of incorporating her love for helping people into her love for farming.
01 Community Involvement?
I spend a lot of time working in the local food system. Feeding people is something that I am very passionate about and creating paths to increase local food accessibility is one of my big goals. To do this, I work with different organizations and programs, such as Hunger Free Oklahoma and different tech centers to create new farms and support current farmers.
02 What are you passionate about?
My list of passions is a mile long. My kids top the list, but farming comes in a close second. I love taking something from a seed and turning it into a product that feeds communities. I love creating new businesses and helping businesses grow.
03 Special memories?
When I was growing up, we’d occasionally visit my grandparents in Oklahoma during the hot summer months. They lived in Broken Arrow, and somehow, we always ended up there around July. Some of my favorite memories revolve around spending time with them there and stepping outside into that humid Oklahoma air.
04 Future dreams?
I’d love to find a way to incorporate my love for farming with my love for helping people.I’d like to create a farm incubator program that focuses on the common issues I see in small farms and help transition people from their previous jobs into farming.