"Old Coots" Gang Sets Up Advice Table At Salt Lake City Farmer's Market

Dec 17, 2019 by apost team

Strolling through a farmer's market in fall is nearly a magical experience, what with the colorful array of vegetables and fruit on display, the enticing scent of fresh baked goods whetting your appetite, and all sorts of homemade items to choose from. What could be better than spending your weekend browsing the stands in a cozy jacket, leaves blowing past you as you take in the sights and scents on a crisp autumn morning?

Well, a group of creative senior citizens had an idea that is the talk of the market and has people flocking to their booth in droves.

The group of friends was sitting around, watching people walk past with bags of veggies or nibbling on some tasty treat they'd just bought when one of the buddies was struck by a terrific idea. They had something valuable to offer these cheery shoppers, and for free!

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In an interview with The Washington Post, 69-year-old Tony Caputo explained the epiphany that sparked the endeavor.

"We were sitting outside, bored stiff from talking to each other, and I said, 'You know what? I'm going to get us a booth across the street at the farmers market, where we can give advice."

And that's just what they did.

Each of Tony's buddies brings something to the table, their collective experiences giving them a deep well of knowledge and life experiences to help them dole out good advice.

His advice-giving partners, all of whom are retired, are Rich Klien, owner of a countertop company; Lou Borgenicht, a pediatrician; John Lesnan, a manager in the field of human resources; journalist Carol Sisco, the lone female in the bunch; Gus Wheeler, who taught elementary school; and reporter Chris Vanocur, the youngest of the group at 58 who thinks of himself as a "coot in training".

Carol Sisco came up with the perfect name during a brainstorming session.

"Tony was going to call the group 'Old Guys,' but I nixed it because it sounded sexist, although he didn't mean it that way," Carol explained in the interview with The Washington Post, "I told him 'Old Coots' had more of a ring to it."

The "Old Coots" tent at the Downtown Salt Lake City Farmer's Market is now a popular attraction that draws in plenty of people each week. Folks stop by seeking all different types of advice, with questions about everything from medical ailments to dealing with their kids and coworkers.

The most asked-about topic is love: how to find it, keep it, and how to mend a broken heart if you lose it.

"To be truthful, I'm not sure that any of us can claim to have much wisdom," John Lesnan told The Washington Post, "but it sure has been a lot of fun. Maybe all of us coots really do have more to offer than we thought." 

Even though none of these wise Old Coots have been trained as therapists or love doctors, they are experts at sharing kindness, listening to problems, and offering the best advice they can straight from their big hearts.

Watch them in the video below:

What do you think about their idea? Who would you start a group like this with? Let us know in the comments and pass this article along to them and see what they think!