Homesteading Symposium
Event Details
The future of America is in the hands of Homesteaders. From backyard farmers to wilderness pioneers, folks are finding ways to be more free. There are as many paths as there are people, and family and community play a big role.
The parallel project is a matter of direction. Most of us still rely on big systems, but we can move more and more toward ones that work alongside the mainstream but are smaller and nearer.
You may be interested in this symposium if you:
- Value resilience, simplicity, growing your own food, off-grid life, preparedness.
- Don’t fully trust giant pharmaceutical and agricultural companies to keep you healthy.
- Desire to build durable friendships with people who share your values.
- Desire to understand the forces that control your basic daily activities.
Speakers will include farmers/homesteaders, off-grid practitioners, homeschoolers, and other folks who are developing legal and wholesome ways to build a more local and resilient culture.
What to Expect
- Hear and share what is working for all types of Homesteaders.
- Ways to go Off-grid. Stories from folks who’ve made the leap.
- Build self-sufficiency and community.
- Mistakes to avoid for the new homesteader.
- The Homestead Heritage of American Liberty.
- Pioneer Pep Talk from legendary Eustace Conway.
- 11+ Hardcore Homesteaders leading lectures and workshops.
Thursday, April 11 — Arrival (Overnight Guests)
Evening: Meet & Greet, Supper, Share Stories
Friday, April 12 — Conference
8:00 - 9:00 AM Restaurant open for breakfast
9:00 - 9:30 AM Pioneers and Parallel Projects with Paul McNiel
9:45 - 10:45 PM The Spectrum of Homesteading Pt. I with Michael Manley, Caleb Kitson
10:55 AM - 12:00 PM Spectrum of Homesteading Pt. II with Joel Boniek, Lotte Manley
12:00 - 1:00 Restaurant open for lunch
1:15 - 1:45 Youtube Homestead: Pros and Cons with Art from “Art & Bri”
2:00 - 2:30 Homestead/Off-Grid Transportation with Michael Wixom
2:45-3:45 Financial Freedom & Trusts with Adam Brinkman, Paul McNiel, Steve Wagner,
4:00 - 5:45 Breakout sessions downstairs. HAM radio, Frontier Life, Raw Milk, TBA
6:00 PM Restaurant open for supper
Evening: Jam, Board Games, Chats at the Restaurant, Library, and around the campfire
Saturday, April 13 — Conference
8:00 - 9:00 AM Restaurant open for breakfast
9:15 - 10:15 AM Old Ideas, New Horizons & the Question of Technology: Discussion/Debate
10:30 - 11:15 AM Rewilding the Farm with Peter Allen
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM Self-Sufficiency in the Wilderness with Caleb Kitson
12:00 - 1:00 PM Restaurant open for lunch
1:15 - 2:30 PM Consider the Costs: Overcoming Hardships with Joel Boniek, Michael Manley, Caleb Kitson, Peter Allen
2:45 - 3:00 PM Pioneering Pep Talk with Eustace Conway
3:15 - 4:30 PM Family & Farm Life with the Manley Family, Caleb Kitson, Peter Allen
4:45 - 6:00 PM Breakout Sessions TBA
6:00 PM Restaurant open for supper
Evening: Contra Dance at the Restaurant (2nd Floor)
Sunday, April 14 — (For those still around)
8:00 - 9:30 AM Restaurant open for breakfast
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Music, Scripture & Prayer in Restaurant and Lodge
12:15-1:30 PM Restaurant open for lunch buffet
1:30-5:00 PM Connect, share info, jam
Peter Allen
Peter owns and operates Mastodon Valley Farm, a 220-acre regenerative farm in Southwestern Wisconsin where he has built a timber-frame homestead, planted thousands of fruit and nut trees, and grazes cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry. He and his wife grow all their family's food and are raising amazing children. Besides farming, he teaches and consults.
Joel Boniek
Joel is based out of his off-grid homestead in Montana, but has guided in Alaska for decades, and has traveled extensively in Asia, South America, and Africa. He has packed dozens of mules deep into the mountains, flown small aircraft in perilous conditions, and harvested heaps of veggies under difficult growing conditions. He is an ardent patriot; as an MT state rep, he rode his mule to the capital.
Caleb Kitson
Caleb moved to a remote island in Alaska in 2021 with wife, 5 kids, and a tent. He built a house and is building out a farm and homestead with the goal of complete self-sufficiency.
Michael Manley
Michael and his family bought a large Amish home in Montana and he equipped it with solar electricity. They host small conferences and training, to equip households and communities and build the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jenessa Manley
Domestic Engineer, Teacher, Trailblazer. The ringleader of seven. We are Amish Daily Farm: We work, we study, we sing, we play… but with electricity now.
Lotte Manley
At 18, Lotte is already a NRA Certified Firearms Instructor, PA Defenders USA, Entrepreneur and advocate of Defense of Life and Community Preparedness.
Paul McNiel
Paul McNiel grew up deep in the woods of Quebec, and is a combat veteran and avid outdoorsman. He has visited and studied off-grid and homesteading families and communities for years.
Eustace Conway
Legend and subject of the book “The Last American Man” and the show “Mountain Men,” Eustace has spent his life promoting the pioneer lifestyle, proving the great extent of what can be done, and defending the American vision of personal initiative, limited government, and community resilience. *Eustace will be joining by video.
Arthur Hunt
Arthur Hunt is a farmer, builder, family man and man of the woods. He and his wife Bri and their family have navigated the ups and downs of a very successful homesteading blog, “Art and Bri.” *Art will be joining by video.
Adam Brink
Father, Husband, Homeschooler, Pastor, CPA, and Trust Expert from Virginia
Steve Wagner
Steve is an inventor and entrepreneur who is the patriarch of several generations of healthy, productive families without social security numbers. He has been resisting the System and building local community for four decades.
Flights
- Sheridan County Airport: 30 minutes (Google Map)
- Billings-Logan International Airport: 2+ hours (Google Map)
- Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport: 4+ hours (Google Map)
- Denver International Airport: 5+ hours (Google Map)
Vehicles
- Rental cars are available at Billings, Bozeman, and Denver airports (check Kayak for cheaper pricing)
- Uber and taxi service from Sheridan
Tickets
- Event registration is available for $25/day (Kids free). $30/day for day-of registration.
- The option to purchase a meal package is available in checkout.
- Tickets with Lodging include the price of your stay plus admission (starting at $110). The option to purchase a meal package is available after checkout.
- The restaurant is open 9am-9pm on Friday and Saturday. Sunday Brunch 11am-3pm