In 1976 as the country was preparing for a massive national celebration, the leaders of the Ligonier Bicentennial planning committee tapped John West to organize a farmers market as a part of the local festivities. That year twelve vendors setup their tables and spread their wares in a building then known as the American Legion barn which is today known as the Mill Creek, home of the Valley Youth Network. The vendors who regularly attended the market during the first season were enthusiastic about their sales and profits and were ready to do it again. The Market was incorporated as a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation in March of 1977 and there was no looking back.