Leo โBudโ Vogt has been running Budโs Farm Marketย for nearly 30 years, growing fresh, organic produce on Evansvilleโs Southeast Side. Vogt routinely serves smiles to his regular patrons, generations of whom flock to his tent-covered stand for vine-ripened tomatoes and sweet melons so large, you have to dedicate two hands to carry them.
The work may sound mundane, but thatโs a misconception. For Vogt, agriculture and horticulture have become lifelong passion projects.
Yet, even for Vogt, the world of farming hasn’t always been his top priority. Instead, he started out in corporate jobs after graduating from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Chicago, Illinois, was his home for around 14 years, before Vogt took up a new business โ his dadโs โ back in his hometown.
In the mid-1990s Vogtโs father passed away, and the family farm at 3501 S. Weinbach Ave. fell into disrepair, with all its responsibilities falling on the shoulders of Vogtโs mother. So he thought, โIโll come back for a year or so to help get things back in shape, and then Iโll go back to Chicago.โ One year quickly turned into three, and three years turned into five, before Vogt finally realized that heโd found his passion.
โI got into the importance of organics and then the importance of plant-based diets, and after five years, I was hooked,โ Vogt says.
For decades, he ran a large operation on the 30-acre farm. Vogt employed between six and eight full-time employees to work five acres and 6,000 square feet of greenhouse space and sell his produce to local markets and grocery stores.
Approximately 12 years ago, Vogt formed a partnership with Purdue University Associate Horticulture Professor Wenjing Guan, who took a particular interest in his organic production system. Itโs an alliance made improbable by the fact that Vogt is a self-proclaimed diehard Indiana University fan, but heโs decided to let that slide if it means improving the processes by which organic produce is grown at his own market and on farms across the U.S.
โI work pretty closely with the people at Purdue, even though this is IU territory,โ Vogt says. โWe just kind of formed a relationship, and itโs been a really great success ever since.โ
Through Purdueโs extension program in West Lafayette, Indiana, researchers use the land and greenhouses to conduct experiments to this day.
In 2019, Vogt decided it was finally time to begin downsizing his operation, hoping to continue staying active and producing high-quality produce while avoiding burnout. Now a one-man show, Vogt operates a pair of greenhouses to continue growing cucumbers, peppers, and, of course, his renowned tomatoes. He notes that, in addition to the exercise, it’s really been the support of his patrons that has fueled him to continue production.
โThatโs one of the things that motivates me; I canโt tell you how many people have just raved about how good the tomatoes are,โ Vogt says. โThey appreciate the quality, and I appreciate the feedback.โ
Itโs a fair trade for Vogt, who hopes to maintain the market for another 10 years.
Bud’s Farm Market is open at 3501 S. Weinbach Ave. from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays and holidays.
