MSU Extension Food & Health

For the first time, a new lactation tent has been introduced at a local farmers market. Located at Mama’s Lexington Farmers Market in Sanilac County, this lactation tent was a collaborative effort between MSU Extension Community Nutrition Instructor, Mary Gilbert, and Mama’s Lexington Farmers Market Coordinator, Taryn Strausser. This initiative was sparked by a conversation about ways to support lactating parents who attend the market.  

The market has approximately 200-300 people who attend weekly. Mary and Taryn initially focused on helping the farmers market become authorized to accept Senior Project Fresh, a program designed to provide fresh, locally grown produce to older adults. Conversations that focused on supporting market goers to stretch their food dollars and provide access to Michigan grown produce led them to the idea of a lactation space. 

The need for this space became clear through lived experience. Mary was inspired by her own experience as a breastfeeding mother who previously faced challenges in finding a private and comfortable space to feed her baby in public. Both Mary and Taryn recognized the barrier that many parents face when attending public events, such as farmers markets, but worry about finding a private place to nurse their baby. Creating a dedicated lactation space could help mothers feel more comfortable, giving them a supportive "village." 

“I love that idea! What can I do?” -Taryn Strausser

The vision was clear: create a safe, comfortable space to nurse and build a community of support around nursing parents. MSU Extension SNAP-Ed launched a mini-grant program in 2024 that allowed qualifying community partners to work with Community Nutrition Instructors to further policy, system, and environmental changes that work to make the healthier choice easier. A total of $1,500 in MSU Extension SNAP-Ed mini-grant funds were used to purchase a tent, rocking chairs, side tables, lactating pillows, extra covers, waterproof protectors, tent sandbags, and signage. These items have helped make the space inviting and functional. Mary’s role in this project was to provide support for the changes, offering guidance and ensuring setup went smoothly. Taryn played a key role in selecting the materials and designing the signage. She provided the physical space at the market and was the champion to bring this idea to life.

To evaluate the usefulness of the tent and gather community feedback, a survey will be available on site for participants to complete. The input collected will help guide future improvements, ensuring the space continues to meet the needs of the community. There are plans to introduce educational classes on topics like nutrition and physical activity for pregnant or lactating parents, further expanding the support available to families. The tent will continue to be a feature at Mama’s Lexington Farmers' Market.  

The community’s response to the lactating tent has been overwhelmingly positive. Local doulas and lactation consultants expressed their gratitude, saying they were thrilled to see such a space in their own community. Many community members have reached out to share their support for the initiative, noting how important it is to have a space where parents can feel comfortable feeding their babies without needing to retreat to their cars or find a secluded area. The local WIC agency was also supportive of the lactation tent and was pleased to hear there was more work being done in the area to support human milk feeding. A local WIC lactating consultant was present at the market and provided printed resources about their services. 

Building a supportive community  

Mary and Taryn look forward to seeing how the lactation tent continues to evolve and grow as more feedback is gathered and the space refined to meet the needs of parents.  

“By creating this space, we’ve not only addressed a practical need but have also built a stronger, more supportive community around breastfeeding mothers in Sanilac County.” – Mary Gilbert

Engaging with market coordinators early on is key to ensuring a diverse selection of healthy, local produce for all families. Also, ensure the market has a variety of produce vendors, ideally ones who accept WIC Produce Connection.  For other communities interested in creating lactation spaces at farmers' markets, Mary’s advice is simple: make sure the space is accessible and easily identifiable. 

For more information and resources on infant feeding, visit MSU Extension's Safe Food = Healthy Babies webpage.