Special Guest
Joel Brashear
Joel Brashear, known as the Kentucky Storyteller, will appear as a special guest speaker sharing traditional Appalachian stories, regional history, and personal narratives that reflect the culture and heritage of Kentucky. His presentations connect community, memory, and place, giving attendees an engaging cultural experience alongside the hands-on skills and educational programming at the event.
Greg Elle
62nd Citizen
Medical Kits & Homesteading Preparedness
A well-built medical kit can make the difference when help is not immediately available. In this class, Greg Elle walks through how to build practical, real-world medical kits designed for homesteads, rural living, and everyday preparedness.
Participants will learn what to include in a basic kit, how to scale up for larger properties or families, and how to organize supplies for quick access during emergencies. Greg will also cover common mistakes people make when building kits, how to store and maintain supplies, and how to think through medical preparedness as part of a broader homesteading lifestyle.
Teri Kury
Canning basics
Teri Kury teaches foundational home food preservation with a focus on safe, reliable canning practices that families can confidently use in their own kitchens. Her class introduces participants to the core principles of water bath and pressure canning, proper preparation of fruits and vegetables, sanitation standards, and long-term storage techniques. Teri emphasizes understanding the reasons behind each step so students avoid common safety mistakes while building independence in food management. The goal of the course is to give participants the knowledge and confidence to preserve seasonal foods, reduce grocery costs, and maintain a dependable pantry supply year-round.
Richard Brothers
Bee keeping
Richard Brothers will teach a beginner-friendly introduction to beekeeping, covering hive setup, basic equipment, seasonal hive management, and how bees contribute to pollination and food production. The class explains what it takes to start a hive at home, how to care for bees responsibly, and the role beekeeping plays in supporting local agriculture and healthy ecosystems.
Rebecca Lyons
Intro to Goats & Sheep Management
·Basic care, housing, and feeding for small ruminants
·Choosing the right breeds for your farm or homestead
·Practical tips for daily health checks, pasture management, and more
Cindy Barth
Homestead Safety
Running a homestead comes with real risks, from tools and equipment to animals and everyday tasks. In this class, Cindy Barth covers the fundamentals of keeping yourself, your family, and your property safe while living a hands-on lifestyle.
Participants will learn how to identify common hazards around the homestead, including equipment use, fire risks, animal handling, and basic property safety. Cindy will also discuss simple systems you can put in place to prevent accidents, improve awareness, and respond effectively when something goes wrong.
Brit Burns-Shepherd
Rendering Tallow at Home!
In this class, Brit teaches the process of rendering tallow at home. Participants learn what tallow is, how to safely source and prepare raw fat, and how to properly render, filter, and store it for long-term use. She explains both the science and the purpose behind the process so students understand not only how to do it, but why it matters.
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Angi Shinaver
Pawsitive Preparedness
Resilience Apothecary
Angi Shinaver is a preparedness educator and herbal practitioner who teaches practical resilience skills grounded in everyday living. Her sessions combine animal care awareness with household herbalism, helping participants understand how preparedness applies not only to people but also to the well-being of their animals and home environment. In Pawsitive Preparedness and Resilience Apothecary, she introduces foundational herbal remedies, basic plant identification, safe preparation methods, and simple care strategies that can be used during supply disruptions or emergencies. Her instruction focuses on responsible use, safety, and confidence building so students leave with applicable knowledge, a clearer understanding of natural support options, and realistic steps toward a more self-reliant household.
Ryan Jones
Understanding how violence develops is the first step in avoiding it. In this class, Ryan Jones breaks down the patterns, warning signs, and behavioral cues that often precede conflict, and how to recognize them early.
Participants will learn practical de-escalation techniques, including verbal communication, body language, and situational awareness strategies that can reduce tension and prevent situations from turning physical. Ryan will also cover when disengagement is the safest option and how to think through personal safety without escalating risk.
This session focuses on awareness, control, and decision-making, giving you tools to navigate high-stress situations with confidence and clarity.