Rural Missouri - August 2017 - 19

Visitors browse an eclectic collection of odds and ends in the shade of the farm's equipment garages. Many of the market's vendors operate antique stores in the southwest Missouri area.
close friends and family members have turned into hundreds of visitors. Today, market say the Springﬁeld area is gaining a reputation in the national resale
the summer market has more than 650 attendees with many lined up at the community as good hunting ground for unusual and unique items.
gate before it opens for the day. Believe it or not, that's a low number for the
"It's getting harder and harder to ﬁnd things," says Terry Tyre, who runs
show compared to attendance in the spring and fall.
Lebanon-based Tattered Treasures Antiques & Collectibles. "People from all
"In May there were probably 800 people, it was standing room only," says over the country come here to ﬁnd stuff and then they go back and sell that
Encore Gallery owner Jim Faulkner, who sells custom furnishings at the from their store. A lot of things are going overseas."
market and often crafts pieces for Clive and Ryan's interior design jobs. "You
Clive agrees small items in particular are harder to ﬁnd as the rustic farmcouldn't ﬁt another person in here."
house look catches on with pickers, decorators and casual shoppers. The style
Add a little bit of live music, fresh-baked pies and kettle corn and it's easy may be in vogue, but for Clive and many other rural folks the trend in design is
to see why the co-owners have branded the quarterly event an open house. simply a reﬂection of how they grew up.
Whether others call it a show or a market or refer to its unique style as shabby"I was raised that way - it was 'rustic farmhouse' because we were just
chic or rustic industrial, the down-home feel is as hard to label
farming people and that's what you had," Clive says. "People are into allas it is to ignore.
natural things now, but back then people really were. Everything was
"You almost have to come see it to get a feel for it," Clive
grain fed off the farm and there were hardly any preservatives. You went
says. "There's stuff from galvanized tubs to furniture. We've had
to town to buy sugar and coffee and that was about it."
people sell salsa and soaps - it's just a mix."
As interest in Schoﬁeld and Gray has grown, Clive and Ryan are
The humble market is beginning to earn a position of note. This
coming up with new ideas to make more use of the property. The
year, Schoﬁeld and Gray earned the "Best Small Outdoor Vintage
farm already hosts its fair share of weddings and baby showers.
Market in Missouri" distinction from Flea Market Style magazine.
Two 16-foot tables Jim crafted from the wood of a Civil War-era
"The property is what drags people in," Clive notes. "If we did
church will be put to use as the centerpieces of farm-to-table
this just anywhere or in a ﬁeld someplace, it would not be what it
dinners. It all harkens back to Lula's days when a simple gathFordland
is. It takes all of these elements."
ering in the community brought good company together.
The show's setting also inﬂuences what sells, according to Karen
"It used to be people couldn't wait to get to town, and now
Chapman, co-owner of The Green Gallery in Ozark with her husband, Kevin.
they are looking for ways to get out," Clive says of the market. "She
Karen has decked out the farm's greenhouse in vintage Americana memora- wanted it to be fun, relaxing and for people to have a good time. That's what it
bilia and surrounded the building with plants and gardening items.
is for."
"Every show you do has its own kind of ﬂavor, and you have to adapt," Karen
says. "It's all about the experience and the atmosphere. People enjoy an atmoFor more information on Schoﬁeld and Gray, like and follow the market on
sphere, and they have created that here."
Facebook at www.facebook.com/schoﬁeld.gray. For more information on GrayIt's also an achievement to stand out in an area that's not short on antique son Home, go to www.graysonhome.co or like and follow the store on Facebook
malls, ﬂea markets and stores for repurposed arts and crafts. Vendors at the at www.facebook.com/graysonhomedecor.
Below: A collection of books, bookends and children's toys adorn a table in the booth of WB Market. Below right: Marketgoers peruse a table of vintage treasures sold by The Paisley Suitcase.

http://www.facebook.com/schofi http://www.graysonhome.co http://www.facebook.com/graysonhomedecor

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