Meet Your Farmer
“The Garlic Grower is In”
& Farmer VIP

Schedule-at-a-Glance & Festival Map HERE

Meet Your Farmer Stage


"The Year of the Homesteaders”

Meet your local homesteading farmers, hear about their farms and homesteads and the sustainable self-sufficiency practices they use.

Learn useful tips for your own gardens or livestock, and bring your questions.

All under the direction of Mary Fischer, SFA Homesteading Series Lead, Contact her HERE.

2025 Schedule

11:00 a.m “Eat Fresh from your Garden for Months”

With Caroline Hegstrom, The Boreal Farm, Taiga Farm & Seed
How you can, and why you should grow and store more food from your own garden. Are you frustrated with a grocery bill that seems to be constantly on the rise?  One solution is to level up your garden in a strategic way to allow more fresh eating all spring, summer, and into the fall.  Learn from our featured homesteader who has been using this method successfully for years.

12:00 p.m. "Include the Kids in Homestead Life"

With Mary Fischer, K & M Fischer Farm
Explore ways to safely incorporate kids into our daily homestead tasks. As a wife, mom, homesteader and homeschooler, Mary is constantly asked “How do you get it all done?”  She will share methods that work for her family life and how she manages large gardens, livestock, homeschooling, homesteading and homemaking in reasonable ways – all with the three young children in tow.

1:00 p.m. "The Top 3: Chicken, Pig & Dairy Cow"

With Leah Matzke, Great Heritage Farm
When you have a chicken, a pig and a dairy cow, you might as well have it all. Learn the necessary homestead cycle (dairy, meat, waste management, etc) that these three animals complete by working together in a cohesive and efficient manner.

 

2:30 p.m. "Homesteader's Panel"

With Benjamin and Leah Matzke, Great Heritage Farm
Mary Fischer, K & M Fischer Farm
Caroline Hegstrom, The Boreal Farm

Priorities in setting up and operating your homestead while avoiding burnout, with general homesteading Q & A. Homesteading is exciting, and some people jump in off the deep end.  To avoid potential burnout and instead create strategy, this panel will offer experienced opinions on how to build your homestead effectively. 

The “Garlic Grower is In” Booth

Professional Garlic growers will staff this booth - think Lucy Van Pelt’s “The Psychiatrist is In” booth - throughout the day. Located in the Garlic Growers Building, these garlic experts will answer your questions about selecting the right garlic, growing it and storing it for your kitchen.

Featuring Garlic Growers:

The Farmer VIP Program

Strike up a conversation with our local farmers at the festival and ask them about their farms! They will be wearing a button that identifies them as a local farmer and they're ready to talk about it

Are you a farmer? Do you like to talk about your farm? Go to the Information Booth and we’ll give you a button.

Questions? Please contact Olivia Olson here.