HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Farmers' Market thanked Jason Probst this week for his recent donation to their 2025 music funding. Jason reached out to the market and wanted to make sure there was funding available for 2025 since we hold a special place in his family’s heart.
“My son was diagnosed with Type 1 (Juvenile) diabetes in middle school," Probst said. "Our family was devastated, and we didn’t know what the future would look like. But for Mitchell it meant poking his fingers every couple hours to monitor his blood sugar, strictly managing his diet, and daily insulin injections.
Music became his outlet and his way of coping with all this change that had entered his life. He poured his energy into learning to play guitar, and the tragedy of diabetes was replaced with the dream of a life in music.
"Playing on a Saturday morning at the Reno County Farmers' Market was his first significant paying gig - and it was a really big deal to a kid starting out in music. He played in front of a bigger audience, and that helped build his confidence and inspired him to keep practicing and keep playing. And, of course, his family was incredibly proud to see him playing in front of so many people.
"Today, more than a decade later, music is still a big part of his life. He learned how to play bass, piano, and drums, and he’s played in a number of different bands at a number of different venues - including events in Hutchinson and at the Kansas State Fair, and it all began with a paying gig at the Farmers' Market when he was just a kid starting out.
"When we remove the opportunity for our children to reach for and realize their dreams, we ensure the decline of our community. If we don’t provide the outlets for them to thrive, to hope, and to turn their passions into action, they’ll find a community that does.
"I want Hutchinson to be that community for our children, so I’m happy to do anything I can to ensure that we continue the tradition of paying musicians - and supporting their dreams - at the Reno County Farmers' Market.”