ST. GEORGE —Motivated by the heart of local artists and farmers, a St. George woman pushed through COVID-19 closures and regulatory issues to forge a path for artisans, giving them the ability to continue their trade and financially support their families during some of the toughest times the world has endured.
Kat Puzey took the idea of supporting local businesses to a new level when she opened MoFACo, The Modern Farm and Artist Co-op, as an extension of the St. George Downtown Farmers Market. With her love for small business owners and the families behind them, she used not just words but actions to bring hope back to the hard-working community of Washington County.
Puzey, a weaver artisan herself, said she instantly fell in love with the St. George Downtown Farmers Market and eventually became the market manager, which included tasks such as writing Meet the Farmer articles, where she interviewed local farmers and shared their stories. She said she found herself captivated by the farmers and felt instantly connected.
“My husband has always had big gardens and we’re honestly just dirty hippies at heart,” she said. “I love these farmers.”
Puzey said the downtown market was originally started as a passion project by Nicki Pace and her husband Randall some 15 years ago. As the couple opened additional businesses in Washington County such as The Painted Pony and George’s Corner , they decided it was time for someone else to take over the market. She said she felt the pull to fill the position and has now run the market for the past five years.
“It’s one of the only activities in the city where income doesn’t matter and anyone can attend for free,” Puzey said. “It’s also one of the only non-religious ways to meet people. If you are feeling isolated or segregated, I encourage people to come to the farmers market. You’ll meet so many amazing people.”
When COVID-19 hit, things changed dramatically for both the community and the market, she said. Because the market is a seasonal business, it requires a special event license in order to remain open. When lockdowns and regulations were put in place, the city was forced to shut down all special events, which included the downtown market.
“In farming, especially small farming, all it takes is one bad season and you lose that farm,” Puzey said. “I was thinking about those farmers.”
She said she was shocked to see store shelves empty when there were many local farmers who had meat, cheese, milk and other food available for the public to purchase. The city did the best it could to support the market, said Puzey, adding that the mayor even called it an emergency business since the market provided a variety of food during the public health crisis.
In one meeting, Puzey said she found herself in tears, unsure how to help the local farmers. A friend of hers who worked for the city said the main problem the market faced was that it took place outdoors. If she was inside, she said the regulations wouldn’t apply to an indoor market.
In 2019, Puzey initially started to workshop the idea of MoFACo and filed for its nonprofit status. She had met with the city to discuss what she needed – affordable studio space for working artists, a classroom space, a commercial kitchen for classes and food trucks. She said the city was very receptive until the pandemic also shut down those options. Devastated at the time, she feared her dream that was so close to reality was gone.
As she put the devastation to the side, she made the decision to distill her dreams down to just a store and classroom space. The store’s sole purpose was to serve as a backup space in case the market was shut down again. She signed the lease for MoFACo in July of 2020, opened the doors to the public just a short month later, and held an official grand opening within three months, as reported by St. George News .
“This whole city was founded upon farming, agriculture and self-sustainability,” Puzey said. “It’s so crucial that the heritage is still represented. There are so many people making so many cool things. And we celebrate that.”
Puzey said she and her husband started the store with no savings to pull from for renovations, nor did they yet have shelves or display cases. During the short timeframe they had before the shop opened, she said she vividly remembers times when her son was crying his lungs out as she painted the shop, all while being around 7-months pregnant.
As they continued to work, Puzey said she was overwhelmed with gratitude as community members began to step in to assist, including a local woodworker who created all the shelves. Puzey also drove around in search of used pallets, took them home, ripped them apart, sanded them down and ultimately refurbished them to use as store displays.
With the fourth quarter of the year an extremely slow time for farmers and coincidently the highest-earning time for artists, she said the shop then turned into an opportunity to save a variety of local small businesses. Providing a space for artisans to showcase and sell their work, Puzey said she was able to help the artists keep their homes and support their families.
Due to no initial funding upon the launch of MoFACo, Puzey said they ran into other issues such as the inability to purchase industrial freezers or commercial refrigerators.
Due to this, the store was unable to provide the amount of food they initially wanted. When it comes to homegrown or homemade food – especially containing meat, she said the regulations are outrageous, which makes it extremely difficult for farmers to sell what they have available.
As Puzey works with local farmers and navigates each regulation, she said her long-term goal is to have a healthy mix of art and food available at the shop, with an entire section set apart only for local food. While they are limited on the types of food MoFACo can currently offer, the shop does sell freeze-dried local apples, homemade pretzels, local coffee and honey, as well as canned goods.
“My passion is local business and really providing a springboard for people to either step into that or grow their following and their business and really refine their products,” Puzey said.
A strong advocate for local artisans, Puzey said she does not turn down talented artists who want to join the MoFACo shop. Many areas of the store will continue to change as more local artists showcase their work, and they will create additional shelving or any means necessary to showcase as many artists as possible.
“Think of it like a St. George Etsy,” Puzey said. “And we’re just getting started.”
Puzey said she has a background in retail and put an immense amount of thought and infrastructure into the store, which included a calculated plan that would set up each artist for success. Artisans who join MoFACo have the opportunity to form an individual business and are given access to all the tools and resources they need to succeed, even if they are at the very beginning of business ownership.
While they do actively accept hobbyists at the shop, she said it’s also the perfect space to transition from a hobby to a small business. Each artist who joins the co-op can either take their current business to the next level or start a new one, and they no longer have to do it alone.
“At MoFACo we’re here to help artists navigate everything they need to know in order to grow,” Puzey said. “We take the guesswork out of it and lead artisans on the path to business success.”
Small business owners can feel overwhelmed and unsure how to juggle many different tasks required when they start out, such as the amount of product they need to create, how to manage an online store, how to take their own quality product photos, and if they choose to do so – how to run a full storefront, which can be a lot. At MoFACo, they offer all of these services in one convenient place.
Every artist gets the opportunity to work with the MoFACo team to discuss how they want their online store to appear and have it designed specifically for them.
The shop even completes Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for each artist, which is necessary for the artists’ work to show up in internet searches related to their products. Artists receive monthly payouts, which include a breakdown of each item they sold that month, allowing artists to see trends with their customers along with what they should make more or less of.
“Every decision I make here is for the benefit of the artists,” Puzey said. “I really, genuinely believe that if you’re going to put on events, if you’re going to do something that’s about artists, about vendors, or about local business, you really have to have that mindset. You can’t go into it for yourself.”
Puzey said it was an absolute miracle and gift from the universe that they were able to open the shop at its prime location on Main Street . This location gives the artists the ability to reach both locals and tourists. It’s the perfect location to showcase the best of Southern Utah to the public.
MoFACo also offers a variety of monthly activities, such as a drawing club, watercolor classes, paint nights, poetry nights and even a “Tea and Tunes” event where people can buy Boba tea and enjoy a free concert.
“This is an opportunity for the community to meet and mix and hang out and enjoy things,” Puzey said. “As a community, when you put on events, charge when you have to charge, but when you can do something good for the community, do that instead. And that’s what we’re doing here.”
Kierstin Madsen, a jewelry artist and designer who showcases her art inside MoFACo, said she’s worked with metals and created a variety of jewelry for over 16 years. As a child, she grew up in an artistic home and always knew she wanted to be an artist. She first discovered her love for metal work when she took a jewelry class in high school, which she attended in Billings, Montana.
Madsen went on to further her artistic career at a community college in Casper, Wyoming, which also featured a metals department. She then received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Idaho State University, where she majored in metal work and sculptures.
Madsen said the sculptures she does now are mostly commission-based, and she creates them collaboratively with her husband who is a metal fabricator.
“I love sculptures but the jewelry is my bread and butter,” Madsen said.
Madsen said her husband encourages her to keep the artistic side of herself active, which helps her become a more balanced mom, teacher and individual. She also teaches art classes part-time at Utah Tech University, formerly Dixie State University.
Whether it was by coincidence or fate, Madsen said she grew up with Puzey in Montana, then randomly connected with her again at the Downtown Farmers Market in St. George. Madsen sold her jewelry at the downtown market for about a year and a half, and when the market extended into a storefront, she jumped at the chance to be a part of it.
When the shop first opened, she said there were only about nine or 10 artists, and it looked much different than it does today.
At the time, Madsen said she was a mother of three with one on the way and wasn’t able to find the time needed to grow her jewelry business on her own.
“I liked the idea of being in a storefront on Main Street, number one, but also being part of a community with everyone in that same growth mindset who cheer each other on,” Madsen said.
Madsen’s jewelry has been featured at the co-op every since. She said it has been a solid base for her business as well as other endeavors she may grow into in the future, such as placement of her art in other co-ops or galleries.
For more information on Kierstin Madsen’s business, MPE Designs, click here .
Riley Funk, an artistic designer and member of the MoFACo co-op, said she went to school for graphic design and has always had a love for arts. She worked in the sign industry for about five years but realized she needed a more personal and creative outlet to showcase her talents.
She began designing stickers first, then hats, which led to custom-designed T-shirts – which is a majority of the business she does today.
Funk said she connected with the co-op through artistic friends that were already members. In February, she came into the shop and spoke to an artist that was working that day. The artist raved about how great the shop had been for her business. Following her instincts, she applied to MoFACo and has featured her art in the store ever since.
“Doing my art has worked out really, really well,” Funk said. “Being at MoFACo has been a huge part of that. I love MoFACo because of the community. There are so many amazing people here.”
Funk does her artwork full-time and plans to expand her shop to include new items such as thread wallets and backpack coolers. For more information on Riley Funk Designs, click here . To see her full Etsy shop, click here .
According to the MoFACo website, the Modern Farm and Artisan Co-op is a Southern Utah 501(c)3 non-profit committed to the growth and support of local artisanal businesses. Every artisan is carefully vetted and researched to make sure they represent the best Southern Utah has to offer.
“100% of purchases stay in our sweet little desert community,” the website reads.
St. George Downtown Farmers Market update
With an original plan to open the downtown farmers market on May 21, the market has now been postponed. Puzey said in a Facebook video that they have maxed out the number of vendors allowed at the Ancestor Square location and are in need of more space. The delay was also caused by the transition from a private event to a public city event, which she said is a big jump.
This transitional process has taken much longer than originally anticipated. In order for the market to continue, Puzey said they also need support from the community. As a nonprofit that had many sponsorships dropped over the last two years, they are in need of new sponsors. Contact the farmers market on Facebook for more information.
For more details on the St. George Downtown Farmers Market, click here . For more information on the MoFACo shop, along with local art and food for sale, click here .
Kat Puzey, owner and founder of MoFACo, stands in front of her shop, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News Local artisans' work is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News Local artisans' work is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News Kierstin Madsen stands with her hand-made jewelry inside MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News Kierstin Madsen's designs sit on a shelf inside MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News Local artisans' work is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News Riley Funk stands with her designs inside MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News A sticker designed by Riley Funk is shown, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Riley Funk, St. George News A model poses with a shirt designed by Riley Funk, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Riley Funk, St. George News Local honey from Helena's Honey is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News Products by Virgin River Naturals are on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News Local artisans' work is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News Local artisans' work is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News Local artisans' work is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News Kat Puzey, owner and founder of MoFACo stands next to one of her weaving pieces, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Kat Puzey, owner and founder of MoFACo, stands in front of her shop, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Local artisans' work is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Local artisans' work is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Kierstin Madsen stands with her hand-made jewelry inside MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Kierstin Madsen's designs sit on a shelf inside MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Local artisans' work is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Riley Funk stands with her designs inside MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A sticker designed by Riley Funk is shown, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Riley Funk, St. George News
A model poses with a shirt designed by Riley Funk, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Riley Funk, St. George News
Local honey from Helena's Honey is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Products by Virgin River Naturals are on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Local artisans' work is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Local artisans' work is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Local artisans' work is on display at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Kat Puzey, owner and founder of MoFACo stands next to one of her weaving pieces, St. George, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.
Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.
Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!
Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!