Manager, Cibolo Grange Farmers and Artisans Market
“The world owes [you] nothing, only [your] good choices and hard work will bring [you] success.” Passed down from her mother, that advice has helped shape Robin Finnell into the resourceful community advocate she is today. Now she uses her talents to help grow the local economy as manager of the Cibolo Grange Farmers and Artisans Market. With an ample array of Central Texas farmers, food vendors, and crafters, the market presents a weekly opportunity for residents to sample and support products from local businesses.
Robin is passionate about what the market provides for her hometown. “Our market’s mission is to supply the community of Cibolo and surrounding areas with a variety of homegrown, homemade and hand-crafted products as a sustainable alternative [for locals].” Recently, she added a rotating charity table to the growing list of vendors, providing worthwhile organizations a new platform to promote their causes. She also donates her time to training horses at a local equine rescue center.
In addition to managing the market, Robin sells her own homemade hummus and jokes about the challenges she faced as a new vendor. “When I started selling my hummus at our market in September, I used to wear my belly dance costumes to promote my product. Unfortunately, people thought I was a fortune teller and wouldn’t come to my tent.” Her business, Yummus Hummus, is just one of many entrepreneurial endeavors she has undertaken. A self-proclaimed occupational gypsy since 1999, Robin has owned businesses in an assortment of fields including professional photography, horse training, multimedia design, belly dancing, and fire performance services. Full of surprises, the mom of two grown children is also an avid Star Trek fan.
As both a vendor and manager of the Cibolo market, Robin is striving to create an environment that promotes growth within the community. She encourages meaningful communication and relationships between the vendors and market customers. “In today’s world, with all of its technology, there’s nothing quite like talking to people in real life. Make yourself real by being present and personable.”
Robin and her husband of 18 years moved to Cibolo in January of 2016, and they thoroughly enjoy the small town feel. “I love how I frequently run into people I know when I’m out and about. This hardly ever happened when we lived in Chicago.” She looks forward to meeting more of her neighbors at the Farmers Market, so stop by and say hello.