Content
September 9, 2026
All communities have them. They may look and feel different, but they are there. Third places are locations where people congregate – a place outside of family or work where meaningful social friendships form and are strengthened. It is also where we connect to civic and social life. These locations are essential “third places” that helps to build community cohesion.
Often, we think of these locations as café’s, restaurants, and bars but what we are finding is that these places could be playgrounds, parks, churches, gyms or recreation centers. It could be anywhere that people informally drop in, linger and start conversations with both strangers and friends. One such spot, that historically has been overlooked as a third place, are locations where economic transactions take place, such as markets. Two very different markets that have been recently studied are farmers markets and livestock sale barns. One would not think that these two unique markets would have that much in common, but they do – they bring people together and they share information. These “third places” also facilitate conversations and build relationships with help to build and support the larger community connection.
Bringing People Together
Markets do bring people together, that is pretty obvious, but what may be a bit more invisible is that they also bring different groups of people together that may or may not regularly interact face-to-face.
For farmers markets, the agriculture producers have the opportunity to share information about how the product they sell was grown or produced and how it might be used. Questions can be asked and a meaningful conversation develops and often a relationship begins to form. Often families are present – people who are looking to buy and those just milling around. Anyone might be strolling at a farmers’ market. Food is a great social magnet! And often farmers markets also partner with others, such as craft vendors and local artisans. There can also be local music at some locations. The market has an event like feel, which encourages conversations and social connections with a real mix of people – rural and urban, young and old.
At the livestock sale barns, various entities involved in the industry are often in attendance – those that produced the animal that is being sold, those that transport the animal to the sale, and local or regional buyers. Often others are also present such as those representing animal health products, veterinarians, and even local bankers. There can also be generations present – from young children to grandparents. It can be a real blend of people. And if you step into a livestock barn café on sale day, you often see local community people stopping in to take advantage of the great food at the café. It is not only a community event but a regional event. There is a welcoming atmosphere, as said by one sale barn attendee:
“I have never been to a sale barn where it wasn’t like a little community. Where I didn’t grow up in the livestock business or family, that was something scary to me, going to a sale. You don’t know nobody when you walk in, it doesn’t matter. I mean like I said, you sit by somebody and very soon they’ll turn around and say, “Oh what are you doing here today””.
Sharing Information
At the farmers market, the buyer has the opportunity to better understand not only the product but the process of how that product got to the market. This process can be filled with information and also the “whys” behind the process. Trade-offs are inevitable in agriculture, and the weather and economic conditions often impact on what is done and why this year is the same or different than other years. Understanding the nuances of producing a product can help the buyer or consumer become more informed and ultimately a better consumer.
At the sale barn, a pilot research study in Nebraska has shown that attendees use the sale environment to glean market research (55%) and gain new industry information (25%). Both of these aspects help them to better inform their business decisions. In addition, the information that is shared at the sale barn expands their business .opportunities and networks. All of this information affects their bottom-line, as one sale barn attendee alludes to.
“It’s so interesting to see what some of those other guys are doing. You might pick up some tips on what maybe I should be doing that I am not doing.”
Third Places Play a Future Role
Seldom do we come out and state it, but specialty local markets as third places have value in building and supporting social and civic cohesion. They also can find themselves under-appreciated as vehicles for those social connections as community strengthening roles. As communities in Nebraska evolve over time, with some growing, some remaining stable and some shrinking, it is important to understand the importance of the social component and how it can be woven and valued into all aspects of community life.
References:
Van Leuven, A. (2025, 4th quarter). The Importance of Third Places in Rural Communities. Available online with membership at: https://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/submitted-articles/the- importance-of-third-places-in-rural-communities
The Impacts of Market Cities: How Markets Promote Social Connections & Wellbeing. Project for Public Spaces. Available at https://www.pps.org
Schlake, M., Burkhart-Kriesel, C., Krehbiel, M., & Saner, R. (2025). Beyond the Auction: Social Impacts of Nebraska’s Livestock Sale Barns. Available online at:
https://cap.unl.edu/news/nebraska-livestock-sale-barns-strengthening-rural-communities/
Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, Ph.D.
Professor and Extension Specialist
Department of Agricultural Economics
Rural Prosperity Nebraska
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
cburkhartkriesel1@unl.edu
308-632-1234