Today was the opening day for the Bentonville Farmers Market on the square in Bentonville. I have photographed the event for many years now and have never seen such a crowd of shoppers and vendors on the first day. Before I left, I stopped and talked with Daniel Hintz, executive director of Downtown Bentonville Inc., and he said that the turnout was helped by good weather and the mild winter that allowed farmers to grow and harvest produce earlier than normal. Downtown Bentonville Inc. organizes the market and much of the growth over the years should be attributed to the organization’s work to keep the event bringing area residents and visitors downtown. The market on the square runs every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 27. A Wednesday market will begin on May 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lawrence Plaza in Bentonville. For more information on the markets, visit Downtown Bentonville Inc. Here are a few photos from the event today.