Larry Littrell was raised on a small homestead in rural Western Washington, where he learned the true value of hard work, self-sufficiency, and being prepared for whatever comes your way. Now living in North Idaho, Larry is a real estate agent with a passion for helping folks find their own piece of land to call home. With hands-on experience in both homesteading and prepping, he understands the challenges of living off the land and being ready for the unexpected. Larry’s approach is simple—practical, no-nonsense advice rooted in years of experience. He’s dedicated to helping others build resilient homesteads and communities that stand the test of time.

Magi Clark - Making Mozzarella & Family Compounds

Half Acre Harvest

Magi lives on a half-acre micro farm where she raises chickens, vegetables, a few fruit trees and three semi-feral children. She has a passion for building community both in her neighborhood and in the wider world. She shares skills, ideas, and most importantly encouragement. Whether you're learning to home make, homestead, or homeschool, she believes you can do it, and she'll help you learn how!

Follow her on Facebook and YouTube.

Martin & Sun Solar - Solar Power

What exactly is solar power? How many panels do I need for a family of four? How much money will I save? What is the difference between on-grid solar and off-grid solar? How much does it all cost? Is it worth it or is this a gimmick? Come and learn about the realities of solar power and dispel some of the myths perpetuated by advertisements riddled with misleading information. Find out if there is a solar system that is right for you. Shane will be available to answer your questions specific to your situation and curiosity.

Shane Martin is a Washington state native currently homesteading on the side of a mountain right here in Okanogan County. After a brief stint in the military, Shane earned his degree in industrial mechatronics and low level robotics, but instead of pursuing a career inside factories or millwrighting, he apprenticed under a master electrician who had been working with solar since the 1960s. His work has taken him the full length of Mexico to Alaska while designing, consulting and installing systems from custom RVs to full-scale dairy farms and everything in between. His unique view comes from the fact that he and his family live off-grid, so this is not a “sales and technician” vocation for him. Understanding the perks, problems and nuances of living off-grid with solar power comes from his personal experience–not a FAQ sheet from a company. It’s one of his favorite topics to discuss, as well as his goats, so he welcomes all your questions.

Spencer Scott - Soil Health

Spencer Scott has decades of hands-on farming experience, including about a decade living and working in the Okanogan Valley. There, he and his family farmed organic pears, soft fruits, vegetables, and nuts. He also operated commercial orchards and organic produce fields in Washington, gaining expertise in tree fruit, vegetable crops, and related practices like entomology and pesticide application (as a registered applicator).

In 2017, he was named Nevada's first Soil Health Champion by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) while farming in Wadsworth, Nevada (with greenhouse hydroponics and outdoor soil amendments).

Spencer is the founder of Unstoppable Gardening which offers hands-on workshops, training programs, and guidance on sustainable and organic gardening pratices.

Learn more at Unstoppable Gardening.

Tamela Mack - Herbal Remedies

Tamela Mack is a wildcrafter working out of Ferry County, Washington. She has decades of experience as a forager using wild plants to produce herbal infusions and remedies. She employs a clean, plant based approach to health.

Tamela offers intensive one-day courses on natural remedies that include plant identification, herbal remedies, and how to execute clean harvest of wildcraft harvest.

Margaret Viebrock - Successful Sauerkraut and Pickle Making

Sauerkraut lovers won’t want to miss this session! This class will teach the secrets for successful quick-pack and fermented pickle making, pickling without salt and how to prepare sauerkraut.

There will also be a review of how to use both a pressure canner and water bath canner. This class is for people just learning to preserve food and veteran food preservers who need a refresher course to be sure the food they are preserving is done safely.

Margaret works for WSU Extension and is a food safety and food preservation specialist. Her classes are both educational and entertaining with loads of research-based information and handouts.

Mariah Cornwoman - Seed Saving

Mariah Cornwoman, general partner for Heart of the Highlands, LLC is a graduate of U. C. Davis and a long-time resident and farmer of the Okanogan valley of Washington. She and her farm partners own 40 acres of agricultural and forest land, using alternative energy, water conservation techniques and sustainable cropping practices for both wildcrafted and cultivated crops. They direct market herbal products and open-pollinated garden seeds. She also has taught a number of gardening/farming classes throughout the northwest.

Mariah's Gardening and Permaculture Workshops focus on planting for beneficials and biodiversity, natural pest & disease control, and saving your garden seeds.

Follow her on Facebook.

Jonathan Midkiff - Sheep Shearing

Jonathan Midkiff came to Okanogan County in 2002 with his family. He has tried bull-riding, logging, firefighting, picking fruit, newspaper delivery, moving, roofing, construction, fencing, even engineering. Jonny can usually be found in the highlands of eastern Okanogan County along with the wife that the Creator gave him and six children that cropped up from somewhere. The Midkiff clan raises chickens, rabbits, two gluttonous horses, and a small gang of what was originally Gotland and Romeldale sheep; but now includes all sorts of random mutts including a recent foray into East Friesian dairy sheep. Jonny started shearing in 2019 with blades but got formal with it in 2023 when he went to an ASI certified sheep shearing school in Craig, Colorado.

Learn more at Maple Mountain Shearing.

Jill Almont - Beekeeping and Honey

Jill Almont operates Jillybee Apiary in beautiful Spectacle Lake, Washington. On Sajebuck Ranch, they offer custom beef, along with pears and apples. Recognizing the importance of pollonization, Jill contracted commercial beekeepers for their orcharch. Once Jill experienced bees on her property, she knew that bees were going to be an important part of her ranch operations.

In 2019, Jill ordered her first package of bees and boxes. At the time Jill did not how a strong foundation on beekeeping. Jill leaned into her study of bee keeping. In six years, Jill went from one to forty hives. Through trial and error Jill learned how to maintain hives through the north-central Washington winters. Jill understands that honeybees are very much like livestock; beekeepers like Jill must be hands on -- and also have fun! Jill went from hobbyist to raw local honey entrepreneur, along with providing nucs for new beekeepers.

Cora Bowe - Intro to Dairy Sheep

Cora Bowe is a second-generation homesteader and the creator of, "A Pinch of Patience", based in the Inland Northwest. With her lifelong love of sheep, fiber arts, and creating from scratch, she is passionate about helping others build practical, beautiful homestead systems rooted in tradition.

Cora believes dairy sheep are one of the most versatile homestead animals—providing milk, meat, and wool—and is excited to share her passion on this subject. Her work extends into cheesemaking, meat curing, from-scratch cooking, and traditional food preservation, all taught in a way that simplifies the process and makes it approachable.

Learn more about Cora here.

Alexandria Moon - Kefir

Alexandria Moon grew up on a goat farm in a dairy community in Western Washington. Her earliest memories were of bottle feeding babies, trimming hooves, and following the veterinarian around when he would visit to learn as much as possible from him.

She learned the hard way that anyone can start homesteading from where they are. They don't have to wait for the farm, the money, the spouse, the kids.

Alex believes you can start right now, from your property or from your apartment. The homestead is a lifestyle, not a destination.

Ian Vanatta - Pig Processing

Ian has been working in the mobile slaughter business for 10 years. On average we probably do 1200 animals a year on our customer farm truck all over Okanogan and Ferry Counties.

Ian is the head of the slaughter team for Double S Meats in Tonasket. We do USDA and Custom slaughter there.

Ian takes his job very seriously. He takes great care with the animal that is being dispatched. From the time we prepare to take the shot to the end rinse and clean up, we take every precaution to do a clean, efficient, and professional job.

Katy Webb - Cottage Food License

Katy Webb is a Compliance and Dairy Improvement Coordinator for the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

Katy has been a Food Safety and Compliance specialist for almost ten years, conducting inspections at Food Processors, Food Warehouses, Cottage Food Facilities, Dairy Farms/Plant, and Custom Meat Facilities. She has an educational background is in Nutrition and Food Science.

A Cottage Food Permit allows a resident of Washington state to produce and sell baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters, dry spice blends, or dry tea blends in their primary residential kitchen. Her class will cover an overview of the Cottage Food Permitting. Katy's instruction will include allowed and prohibited products, allowable sales, labeling, and other requirements.

Her class will cover an overview of the Cottage Food Permitting. This will include allowed and prohibited products, allowable sales, labeling, and other requirements.

Katy will also bring one of the new local inspectors, Ruby Knapp.

Taylor George - Okanogan Conservation District

Your Local Conservation Partner - Here's How We Help!

This presentation will cover the work Okanogan CD does to provide technical assistance (and when possible cost share dollars) for agricultural systems, range and pasture management, riparian and upland habitat improvement or restoration, irrigation efficiencies or irrigation water management, forest health and wildfire prevention, and youth education programs where we provide lesson plans and classroom/cohort lessons.

Taylor George, Agriculture & Range Planner for the Okanogan Conservation District, focuses on helping local homesteaders and landowners find practical ways to improve their land, from soil health, forage productivity and water use to wildlife habitat and grazing. Taylor is passionate about making conservation approachable and sharing resources that help people care for their land and animals with confidence.

Tami Brathovde and Jeff Schwab - Steep Hill Farm

We operate Steep Hill Farm at the Big Rock Ranch east of Tonasket. Primarily focused on Suffolk cross meat lambs, we pursue a variety of homesteading activities and will be presenting several classes from cast iron cookware care, barn quilts, wicking beds, cooking lamb, and vending some delicious lamb burgers on Friday and Saturday. Hillside Catering will also be serving gyros with lamb from our farm. You can learn more about us here.

Joel & Drea Fancy - Fancy's Regenerative Farm

Joel, Drea and their five children enjoy living and working on their homestead tucked away on a mountain overlooking the Kettle River valley. They have a passion for homesteading, homeschooling, and healthy living.

On their farm they garden, raise pastured poultry, dairy cows, goats, as well as premium grass fed and finished beef and lamb. Their journey has led them to realize the difficulty that we all face, in finding wholesome, healthy food that is free of toxic sprays, harmful vaccines, and free of GMO’s. They have taken on the responsibility of growing their own food and providing food for the local community as well.

Staying true to their convictions, they believe strongly in the traditional family, regenerative farming practices, wholesome living and Biblical preparedness. They love to share their passion through You-tube (@Fancysregenerativefarm) by teaching others tips and tricks with specialty homemade dairy products, homesteading and regenerative farming practices.

Clare Painter - Barefoot Ranch

Clare Painter, natural hoof care provider, has been fiddling around with hooves since she was 7. Growing up on a sheep farm in Washington, Clare assisted in the hoof care for the farm’s sheep population, which also extended to 2 riding ponies. Venturing from the farm for 20 years working in the Alaskan fishing industry, Clare returned to Washington and began dabbling in horses. In 2008 Clare attended schooling in natural hoof care, and started working on her own mules and began trimming horses for her friends. This grew into a business for 15 years here in Okanogan county, and her clients ranged from Republic to Wenatchee and many points between. Clare is happy to share and teach her knowledge with others on the importance of hoof care for our livestock. Clare will demonstrate trimming for sheep/goats, equine and will also chat about cows.

Paul Bouchard - CPR Instructor

Paul Bouchard has been an EMT for fifteen years. For the past twelve years, Paul has been a CPR instructor. Paul has worked as a volunteer for both Tonasket and Oroville EMS Departments. In addition, Paul does leather and laser engraving as well as producing patio furniture.

Helen Mooney - White Pine Homestead

I am a wife and mother first, but canning might actually be my love language and the kitchen, one of my favorite places to be. I started canning 16 years ago making just simple jams and jellies and our food preservation skills have continued to grow from there. Our goal at White Pine Homestead is to continue to grow our ability and skills to be as self-sufficient as possible and less dependent on the average grocery store. To be more like our great grandparents, while still enjoying some of our modern conveniences. Keep it simple and keep on going!

Deven & Nathali Idler - Tunk Mountain Shepherds

We have been homesteading for over a decade. Learning a lot along the way. We are happy to share what we've learned on this journey in hopes it will help others. We have been using LGD breeds for 11 years, 9 of those being Central Asian Shepherds. Our foundation stock is all Turkmen Alabai bloodlines we have imported from several countries trying to preserve the way this breed has been for thousands of years while also maintaining a line of crosses we use for this changing world we live in.

Karenia Townsend - Townsend Farm

Karenia Townsend is a small-scale dairy farmer at Townsend Farm, where they produce raw milk and handcrafted dairy products for local families. She is passionate about educating others on raising a family milk cow and producing nutrient-dense milk, with a focus on making dairy more transparent, approachable, and rooted in traditional practices.

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