You can choose any session at any time. Descriptions of each session can be found below.

Directions to the Cleveland County Fairgrounds

Admission – Accepted at the Gate

Adults: $20      Youth 17-Under: FREE

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Arkansas Homesteading Conference – Session Descriptions

Choose any session you wish to attend at any time. Schedule is subject to change.

9 AM SESSIONS

INTRODUCTION TO HIGH TUNNELS (MEETING ROOM) – Taunya Ernst, High Tunnel and Urban Agriculture Educator for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, is using her multi-state experience with high tunnels to help Arkansas producers adjust a traditionally cold-climate tool for warmer areas. Although high tunnels are typically used in colder climates to extend growing seasons, growers in Arkansas and across the Southeast have adopted them for shade and weather. Taunya has vast experience growing multiple annual and perennial crops in high tunnels, including some experience working for a commercial indoor-farming company. In her session, she will focus on the basics for success in high tunnel production by going over site selection considerations, crop selection and planting date recommendations, pest management strategies, and more.

STARTING A HOME ORCHARD (EXHIBIT HALL) – Just because fruit trees is available at the local big box store doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best tree for your locale. Amanda McWhirt, Fruit and Vegetable Specialist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, has extensive experience in researching and testing the best methods for growing fruits and vegetables in Arkansas. In this session, she will discuss the things you should consider when starting an orchard on your homestead.

10 AM SESSIONS:

TOOLS FOR THE HOMESTEAD (MEETING ROOM) – If you have ever watched any episodes of Farm Hand’s Companion on YouTube, you know that Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams of Caddo Gap has a passion for doing things the old fashion way.  And that passion extends, in particular, to basic tools that have been a staple on American homesteads since the beginning. Whether it is using a scythe to cut hay or a hoe to weed the garden, Pa Mac has produced a video on how to use it and care for it. In this session, he will be going over some of the most useful tools for the homestead and how to properly use and maintain them.

MEDICINAL HERBS (EXHIBIT HALL) – From Chamomile to Yarrow, people have been using herbs as natural remedies for ages. In this session, Cindy Faulk of C The Difference Boutique in Hot Springs and Debbie Tripp of Rosemary Hill Herb Farm in Royal will be discussing how to grow and use some of the most popular herbs used in natural remedies. Cindy and Debbie have been part of the Arkansas Homesteading Conference from the very beginning, and they often speak to Master Gardener groups across the state. Debbie specializes in growing herbs while Cindy specializes in converting them into tinctures, oils, lotions and mores. Both are active in the Herb N League at Hot Springs, and they have traditionally been a crowd favorite at the Arkansas Homesteading Conference.

11 AM SESSIONS:

RAISING GOATS (MEETING ROOM) – When homesteaders start looking to add livestock to their homestead, goats are often the animal of choice since they are relatively easy to care for and need for little pasture space. Ashley Thompson of Sweet T Farm in Jefferson County has turned her love for all things goats into a thriving natural products business featuring soaps, lotions and more. Ashley, who is a regular presenter at the Arkansas Homesteading Conference, will provide an overview of what you need to know when it comes to raising and caring for goats.

FORAGING IN ARKANSAS (EXHIBIT HALL) – Foraging for wild foods and other useful plants in the outdoors has always been a staple for folks wanting to live off the land. After picking up some foraging skills through a professional training course in North Carolina, Angelina Boiles of the Garden of Love 501 in Royal has returned to her native Arkansas and is now using those skills to find wild foods in the forests of the Natural State. Angelina is especially fond of wild mushrooms since she raises the culinary varieties for market at her farm at Royal.

LUNCH & LEARN SESSION:

LUNCH (EXHIBIT HALL/CONCESSION STAND) – The Cleveland County Fairgrounds will be offering a couple of options this year for lunch. The concession stand will be open throughout the day while a buffet style lunch will be served in the Exhibit Hall. We have extended the lunch break to give visitors an opportunity to meet with exhibitors and demonstrators who will be on the grounds.

1:30 PM SESSIONS:

PLUGGING LOGS FOR MUSHROOMS (MEETING ROOM) – Shiitake mushrooms are one of the most popular mushrooms on the market today due their taste and health benefits. Research indicates they are high in B vitamins, a good source for vitamin D and are have plenty of dietary fiber. Some health benefits include the ability to aid weight loss, support cardiovascular health, fight cancer cells, improve energy levels and brain function, reduce inflammation, and support the immune system.  Angelina Boiles of Garden of Love 501 at Royal will take you through the process growing of your own shiitakes, from plugging logs with spores to setting up the right environment to get the best production.

CONTAINER GARDENING (EXHIBIT BUILDING) – One of the great things about the Arkansas Homesteading Conference is that you never know what kind of skills someone in the audience might have. That’s how we came across Gary Alexander of Benton. Gary shared some photos with us of his backyard container garden. As soon as we saw the photos of his beautiful set-up, we knew we needed to him as a speaker at the conference! That happened in 2022, and his presentation was so well received we’re having him back again this year! Gary will be discussing how he uses 5-gallon buckets and cattle lick tubs to grow a wide range of vegetables using automated irrigation and shade cloth hoops. Gary is an accomplished artist and will have some of his pieces available at the conference.

2:30 PM SESSIONS:

ELECTRIC FENCING AND PASTURES (MEETING ROOM) – Kenny James Simon of Vilonia is a cattle rancher and animal science instructor for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Kenny is a third-generation farmer who pasture-raised beef cattle at Simon Farm near Vilonia. If you have ever eaten a burger or meatloaf at The Root Cafe in Little Rock, the beef was probably from his farm. Kenny’s primary job with the Division of Agriculture is helping fellow producers with foraging, which includes fencing and pasture management. In this session, Kenny will be going over the basics of using electric fencing for livestock and pasture management for ruminants and other livestock.

PRESSURE CANNING (EXHIBIT HALL)  – Have those photos of pressure canner lids lodged in the ceiling of a kitchen scared you away from pressure canning? Amy Kinnard of The Kinnnard Family Homestead outside of Sherwood will ease those fears as she shows you how to safely and easily enjoy the benefits of pressure canning. Compared to traditional bath canning, pressure canning allows you to preserve a greater amount at one time, and is an ideal way to preserve low-acid/non-acidic vegetables and meats, Amy and her husband, Tim, are full-time homesteaders and they rely on the food they preserve from their garden to sustain themselves and their five children.

EXHIBITS/DEMONSTRATIONS:

There will be exhibits and demonstrations available throughout the conference. Many of our speakers will have booths set for some one-on-one conversations. We have also invited some other special guests to join us that can provide you with some valuable information in your homesteading effort:

David Hill with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Extension Services’ Share Grounds Kitchen Incubator Project will be on hand to discuss this unique commercial processing kitchen located at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds. One of the biggest burdens for anyone wanting to start a retail food product is finding a commercial kitchen to make it. This special project allows those aspiring food entrepreneurs to rent use of a commercial kitchen plus lend in a hand in getting your nutritional food labels, up-sizing your recipes and more. David has been with the program a couple of years after working in the commercial food industry.

Ed Montgomery of Rison has a passion for teaching others the art of blacksmithing. He loves its so much that he even started a 4-H Blacksmith Club in Rison. He and his family will be demonstrating throughout the day. Also, Ed is a professional forester by trade, so if you have any questions about managing timber on your land, feel free to ask him about that as well.

Shona Jordan of Pike County is a homesteader and taxidermist/tanner. She and her husband, Robert, raise about 90 percent of their food on their 5-acre homestead. Shona will be demonstrating how to covert a hide into a pelt, plus the Jordans are an excellent source for homesteading information in general.

Adam Chartrand of Man of the Red Earth specializes in improving soil health through the use of vermicompost (worm castings). Adam was a presenter at the Arkansas Grown Conference this past January in Hot Springs and was a first-time at our conference last year.  You can visit with Adam one-on-one to learn more about improving the microbial life in your garden soil for better production and healthier crops.

Tim and Amy Kinnard of The Kinnard Homestead outside of Sherwood decided to take the plunge 12 years ago to become full-time homesteaders. They have reached that goal, and today Tim and Amy along with their four sons and one daughter are continue to develop their 20-acre spread that includes livestock, a high tunnel and sustenance garden.

Heath LaFavers of Ozark Worm Farm of Searcy turned a hobby he took up during the COVID pandemic into its own business! Heath and his family know grow red wigglers works for composting, and he also sells worm castings as well. You can visit with Heath about starting your own worm farm at home to make your own worm castings or simply have worms for fish bait.

Frankie Harper of Rison is the organizer of the Backwoods Poultry Show held each spring at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, the site of the Arkansas Homesteading Conference. Frankie has been showing chickens nearly his entire life, and he has both participated in and judged poultry shows across Arkansas and other states. Frankie will have a few of the show breeds on display at the conference. He is an excellent source of information regarding poultry health and the various poultry breeds.