Sacrificing early Saturday mornings to spend your time loading, driving, unloading, standing and selling, and then reloading and driving once again can be tiring if you do it a few times.

Now imagine 46 years as a vendor and you know what Rose Fishley orf Fishley Farms has been doing.

A labour of love that started with bedding plants in the disco era, the farm Bethune was the longest continuous member of the market.
This past Saturday was her last day and she recalled some of the things that have changed over the years.

“When we first started, we started up at the Exhibition grounds,” she said. “And it would most be just a few markets in the fall, But now it starts in the early spring and goes late through until the fall…

“We originally started with… garden things. Bedding plants and vegetables.”

After the last few decades of bedding plants, Fishley was selling blankets and children’s outerwear this year.

But it’s been a long time since those exhibition grounds days.

“My oyoungest girl couldn’t see the top of the table,” she said. “That’s how young she was. But they grew up in it, and my grandchildren grew up in it. Ryan (McNally, grandson) was one of my helpers for a real long time.”

From bell bottoms to today’s clothing fashions, Fishley has seen a lot in her decades at the Regina Farmers Market.

“I just wish everybody a good market,” she said Saturday. “And I thank everybody that has supported us over the years and I’m saying goodbye.”