The Fayette Optimist Club on Friday honored Liz Dougherty as the Volunteer of the Year for her work spearheading the Kids Market this summer. 

The award was presented at the club’s weekly Friday morning meeting.

“We wanted to recognize what Liz did this summer,” said Fayette Optimist President Brian Asbury. The award is the first of its kind but is anticipated to become an annual presentation. It came with a $100 gift card to Emmet’s Kitchen & Tap in Fayette.

The Optimist Club exists to benefit the youth of the community, and the Kids Market was perfectly in line with the club’s creed.

“I was very honored,” said Dougherty.

The Kids Market, held twice a month in June, July, and August, showcased young entrepreneurs from around Howard County who gathered around the courthouse in downtown Fayette to sell a variety of items such as fruits, jams, baked goods, lemonade, crafts, jewelry, and popcorn. Sponsored by Fayette Main Street, Inc., the event grew in size each time it ran. Dougherty said she hopes the event will grow large enough to fill all four sides of the courthouse square.

The Kids Market will run at least one more time from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 18. It will coincide with Central Methodist University’s Family Weekend.

Another time in late November or early December is in consideration just before the holidays.

And Dougherty said the Kids Market will definitely be back next summer as well.