Chess at the Farmers’ Market

A Day at the Farmers' Market

Saturday, June 20 was about as perfect a day as Madison gets—sunny, warm, and the Square packed with people. Lincoln and his dad set up two chess boards at the Dane County Farmers' Market and invited anyone who wanted to play. It was his first time doing anything like this.

The idea had been building for a while. A few weekends earlier, Lincoln and I noticed kids around the market playing music with their instrument cases open for tips. And a few months ago, while visiting Philadelphia, Lincoln and his dad spent an afternoon playing chess with regulars in Rittenhouse Square—strangers who gather simply because they love the game. The two experiences stuck with us.

Then, after Lincoln competed in the U.S. Chess Federation National Championships in Round Rock, Texas, we got a clearer picture of what it takes to continue growing in chess. Coaching, tournaments, and travel add up quickly. We realized that if Lincoln wanted to keep pursuing this passion, we'd need to get creative.

There was another reason, too.

One of the things I love most about chess is that it gets Lincoln out into the world. It gives him opportunities to meet people of different ages and backgrounds, build confidence, and learn how to connect with others. Spending a Saturday morning talking with strangers across a chess board felt like a pretty good way to do that.

By the end of the day, Lincoln had played about 15 games and lost only three. His opponents ranged from six years old to their early sixties. Some told him they had played competitively when they were younger. Some wanted to test their skills. A few simply wanted the satisfaction of beating an 11-year-old.

At one point, the 16th Annual World Naked Bike Ride rolled right past the Square, which is exactly as distracting during a chess game as it sounds. Lincoln and his opponent paused, watched, laughed, and then went right back to playing. Only in Madison.

What surprised us most wasn't the donations. It was the people.

People stopped to share stories, talk about their own experiences with chess, encourage Lincoln, and stay to watch the games. Throughout the day, we were reminded how many people are willing to support a young person who is working hard at something they care about.

For Lincoln, the day wasn't just about raising money. It was about building confidence, meeting new people, and learning that a community can rally around a kid with a dream.

We're already planning to do it again.