A historical timeline
Scroll to learn about the Leesport Farmers Market aka Leesport Auction and the Weist family that founded this important staple of Berks County, Pennsylvania
The Weist Legacy
Our story started when LeRoy J. Weist married Mary B. Graeff. Together they greatly extended the Weist family line, raising 9 children that would all take part in the legacy of the Leesport Auction / Leesport Farmers Market!
The Purchase
In 1946, LeRoy J. took a leap of faith and purchased 30 acres of farmland at the north end of Leesport, PA where together the family built a cattle barn and one market building consisting of 4,000 square feet!
Opening Day
With 97 head of cattle consigned by 25 sellers, the Weist family opened for their first sale day on July 9, 1947.
Expanding
Later that year, they quickly realized the Market was getting more attention than expected, creating a need for more space and more vendors. That Fall, they built a 2nd Market House building to fill with more vendors.
Big Barns & Dreams
As the Market Houses grew, so did the Livestock Auctions. So in 1949 they began building additions to the barn and added hog pens, resulting in an increase in the amount of local farmers they were able to accommodate for.
Building an Empire
Ok, so we know it's not technically an empire, but to the Weist family line, it sure is. As the Market and its opportunities continued to grow, the family continued to build. In 1952, they introduced a third Market House building to fill with vendors.
Got Milk?
After a decade of catering to the Ag community through our Livestock Auction, they decided to keep that momentum going and add a Dairy Barn addition to their Auction Barn.
Next Generation
On June 1st, 1960, two of LeRoy J. & Mary's nine children, John U. & LeRoy H purchased this Market and for two & a half decades they contributed to the growth of the business including the construction of the first part of the Pole Building.
A Flea Market Era
They say trends come and go but they almost always return. Within the last few years, it seems that people have deemed thrift shopping as a trendy way to spend your money. In the 70s, the same held true then. The Flea Market business was booming and our Market offered a perfect place for vendors to sell their goods.
"If you build it, they will come"
As the business grew, so did the services they offered. To keep up with the successful business, they had to buy the proper vehicles and equipment, resulting in the construction of our Truck Shed. One year later, they built an addition to the Pole Building, creating more space for vendors.
Taking Shelter
While more and more people of the community began using the Market as a place to do business, John & LeRoy made sure all their vendors felt comfortable while there by adding a roof that extends off of the Market House buildings (referred to as the Porch), for vendors to safely continue selling their items without being exposed to harsh weather conditions.
On to the Next
On July 1st, 1985, the Market torch was passed down to John's son, Bill Weist and LeRoy's son, Daniel (Woody) Weist. Together they expanded the market for a little over a decade. That same year, they added a second Market day by introducing Sunday Flea Markets, which are still held today.
Getting Crafty
When the two cousins realized how successful things were going for their vendors selling flea market and farmers market items, they figured, why stop there?! October 12, 1986, our first Craft Show was introduced, which gave new vendors an opportunity to come and sell their handmade/homemade items at this special event. We now host several Craft Shows annually!
"A little Party never killed nobody"
Bill & Woody built the final and most recent addition to the Market, the Banquet Hall. This is a 180' x 60' building that can accommodate up to 600 people for all types of events. Not only does it get filled with neat vendors each Wednesday, but you will also find several different fun events for you and your family to attend.
To the beat of his own drum
After over a decade of making the Market a better place, Bill Weist was ready to try something new on his own. His passion at the market really lied within the Livestock Auctions, therefore he purchased the Middleburg Livestock Auction, located in Snyder County, PA. He still owns and runs it to this day.
"A little Party never killed nobody"
Woody Weist continued his legacy at the Market, being the first Weist to own the Market independently. He added and updated things over time and introduced the market to more modern technology, such as our first website, creation of social media pages and more!
The Family line continues
Though Woody and his wife, Cindy, had four children, they each went off to follow different career paths, none of which included Leesport Market. So as Woody approached his retirement years, the question remained, who would take over next? In an ironic turn of events, Bill Weist's son, Ben Weist, came back to the Market to find that the nostalgia he was feeling was too strong to ignore and sat down with Woody to discuss the start of a new era.
New & Improved
On March 1st, 2020, Ben became the new owner of Leesport Famers Market. In a few short months he managed to remodel/update both of the indoor venue spaces as well as adding several new annual events for the people of community to attend. Though the COVID-19 Pandemic brought it's challenges to the new owner, he and his team pushed through it and are now ready to show the community how excited we are to remind everyone of the amazing Berks County Staple that is the Leesport Farmers Market!
