top of page
  • Black Facebook Icon
  • TikTok

Presenters

At the Central Arkansas Homestead Conference, attendees will have the chance to learn from a diverse group of presenters sharing practical skills and hands-on knowledge. Topics range from beekeeping and rotational grazing for healthier land management, to growing techniques like high tunnels and container gardening that maximize harvests in any space. Families can explore sessions on homeschooling and embracing a crunchy lifestyle, while others dive into essential homestead skills such as canning and food preservation. Safety and preparedness are also covered with first aid workshops and live chainsaw safety demonstrations. Whether you’re new to homesteading or looking to deepen your self-sufficient lifestyle, the conference offers something for everyone.

Joel_Salatin.avif

Joel Salatin
Polyface Farms

Joel Salatin with Polyface Farms speaker, Joel Salatin, 65, calls himself a Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer. Others who like him call him the most famous farmer in the world, the high priest of the pasture, and the most eclectic thinker from Virginia since Thomas Jefferson. Those who don’t like him call him a bio-terrorist, Typhoid Mary, charlatan, and starvation advocate. With a room full of debate trophies from high school and college days, 15 published books, and a thriving multi-generational family farm, he draws on a lifetime of food, farming and fantasy to entertain and inspire audiences around the world. He’s as comfortable moving cows in a pasture as addressing CEOs in a Wall Street business conference. His wide-ranging topics include nitty-gritty how-to for profitable regenerative farming as well as cultural philosophy like orthodoxy vs. heresy. A wordsmith and master communicator, he moves audiences from laughs one minute to tears the next, from frustration to hopefulness. Often receiving standing ovations, he prefers the word performance rather than presentation to describe his lectures. His favorite activity?–Q&A. “I love the interaction,” he says. He co-owns, with his family, Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia. Featured in the New York Times bestseller Omnivore’s Dilemma and award-winning documentary Food Inc., the farm services more than 5,000 families, 50 restaurants, 10 retail outlets, and a farmers’ market with salad bar beef, pigaerator pork, pastured poultry, and forestry products. When he’s not on the road speaking, he’s at home on the farm, keeping the callouses on his hands and dirt under his fingernails, mentoring young people, inspiring visitors, and promoting local, regenerative food and farming systems. Salatin is the editor of The Stockman Grass Farmer, granddaddy catalyst for the grass farming movement. He writes the “Confessions of a Steward” monthly column for Plain Values magazine, the “Homestead Abundance” column for Homestead Living magazine, and three columns a month for the e-magazine Manward. He also co-hosts a podcast titled BEYOND LABELS with co-author of that book Dr. Sina McCullough. A frequent guest on radio programs and podcasts targeting preppers, homesteaders, and foodies, Salatin’s practical, can-do solutions tied to passionate soliloquies for sustainability offer everyone food for thought and plans for action. He also hosts his own podcast with Dr. Sina McCullough called BEYOND LABELS after their book of the same name. Mixing mischievous humor with hard-hitting information, Salatin both entertains and moves people. Seldom using a power-point and often speaking from an outline scribbled on a yellow legal pad, he depends on theatrics, style, and compelling content to hold attention and defend innovative positions. The rare combination of prophet and practitioner makes him both a must-read and must-hear in a time desperate for integrity leadership and example Joel has authored 12 books: PASTURED POULTRY PROFITS – Net $25,000 in 6 months on 20 Acres SALAD BAR BEEF YOU CAN FARM – The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Start and Succeed in a Farming Enterprise FAMILY FRIENDLY FARMING – A Multi-Generational Home-Based Business Testament HOLY COWS AND HOG HEAVEN – The Food Buyer’s Guide to Farm Friendly Food, is an attempt to bring producers and patrons together in mutual understanding and appreciation EVERYTHING I WANT TO DO IS ILLEGAL – War stories from the local food front. THE SHEER ECSTASY OF BEING A LUNATIC FARMER FOLKS, THIS AIN’T NORMAL – A Farmer’s Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World Website: https://polyfacefarms

imagejpeg_0.jpg

Jeff Brown

Everyday is a Blessed Day Farm I have been raising rabbits for 20 years now. We started out with 14 different breeds for show, pet, and meat. I started raising rabbits in high school as a project. I raised 40 New Zealand white does and 3 bucks for FFA.

Amanda L. McWhirt  Faculty  Horticulture  University of Arkansas (2).jpeg

Dr. Amanda McWhirt

Collapsible text is great for longer section titles and descriptions. It gives people access to all the info they need, while keeping your layout clean. Link your text to anything, or set your text box to expand on click. Write your text here...

1
3
IMG_7283 (1).png

Clint and Joy Ballard

Clint and Joy Ballard are passionate homesteaders, entrepreneurs, and parents of five who have built a thriving 40-acre family farm in New Blaine, Arkansas, through intentional teamwork, complementary skills, and a shared commitment to self-reliance and real food.Ten years ago, the Ballards traded an intensive urban homestead—packed with raised beds, bees, rabbits, chickens, fruit trees, and the occasional “illegal” goat—for a slower, more purposeful country life. Raised on a 165-acre Missouri farm where he milked cows and tended a small herd with his father and brothers, Clint brought deep agricultural roots to the move. After retiring from 21 years in the U.S. Army, he embraced the physical rhythms and purpose of full-time farming. His degree in construction engineering has been essential in building the farm’s infrastructure from the ground up.The Ballards’ operation thrives on partnership: Clint expertly tends the animals, milks the 12-cow herd, manages their care, and oversees the large family garden. Joy, a nurse and masterful artisan in the kitchen, transforms that milk into approximately 500 pounds of artisanal cheese each year, along with other dairy products. Together they supply fresh milk, cheese, and eggs to 150 local families weekly. The homestead also features an expanding elderberry patch and growing fruit orchard.Dedicated to raising resilient children and empowering others, the couple weaves animal chores and gardening into family life to teach responsibility, purpose, and reward. They are growing their on-farm classes to show people how to maximize any space—from backyard chickens to full homesteads.At the conference, Joy will teach cheesemaking, elderberry propagation, and elderberry syrup making, while Clint will share practical guidance on establishing and managing a successful homestead dairy operation.

Dewayne Hall
Red Feather Farms

Dewayne is a national speaker on all things homesteading from wildcrafting to animal husbandry. He graduated from Texas A&M at Commerce and has spent a lifetime teaching and learning. Dewayne’s education started at an early age with his grandfather passing on generations of knowledge such as woods skills, edible and medicinal plants, how to hunt, fish and live in harmony with the land and animals. Dewayne then went on to spend a short time on the Navaho Reservation learning many of the Navaho native ways. After graduation from college he went on to manage a 33,000 plus acre ranch in west Texas, then to teach Agriculture and Biology for several years. While teaching Dewayne raised sheep, horses, cattle, and grew their own hay and grain and formulated his own livestock feed. After retiring, Dewayne came full circle back to teaching edible and medicinal plants, and small-scale natural agriculture. In 2016, Dewayne and his wife purchased an abandoned farm. They are now in the process of building a sustainable teaching farm to pass along Dewayne’s years of experience and knowledge along with new more sustainable conservation practices. At the forefront on Red Feather Farms, you will find TexMaster meat goats, pasture chickens, honey bees, vegetable and herb gardens, an Elderberry farm, native plant and trees utilized for food and medicine. Red Feather Farms currently has their own private label meat and herbal business. At Red Feather Farms you will also see sustainable and conservation practices such as, rain water catchment, waterless toilets, garden composting, as well as numerous soil, plant, water and other resource conservations. Dewayne’s motto is “Homesteading on a Budget”. Follow Dewayne and Red Feather Farms on FB at RedFeatherFarmsOK and Instagram @RedFeatherFarms, #homesteadingonabudget.

IMG_0922.JPG
IMG_9570.heic

Janel Tilley
Canning Basics to Running a Farm Store

We have owned and operated Tilley’s Market for the past two years and count it as one of our greatest blessings to serve our community through it. From the very beginning, our goal has been simple: to create a place where people feel welcome, where good food and good conversation come together, and where our love for Jesus and for others shines through in everything we do. Family is at the heart of who we are. We are the proud parents of three daughters and one son. Our oldest daughter is married and lives in Morrilton, our middle daughter is in heaven — she was tragically killed in a domestic violence situation in 2020 at the age of 24, and our youngest is a student at Quitman High School. Our son is married and lives in Los Angeles. Each of our children have shaped our lives in a unique way, and we are grateful for the joy, laughter, and memories that family continues to bring us. Whether we’re tending the garden, baking fresh breads and desserts, or preparing homecooked meals to share with our neighbors, we pour our hearts into every part of this work. Tilley’s Market is more than just a place of business to us, it’s an extension of our home and our faith. We are honored to serve our customers, who have truly become friends and family, and we look forward to continuing to grow, serve, and share our hearts with the community that means so much to us.

Haven Waters
Holistic lifestyles

Hippie Mama Household Back to the basics! We are an outdoorsy family of 5 making a daily effort toward a simple, holistic lifestyle. I started a small Facebook group called Hippie Mama Household when we found out my oldest son struggled with ADD/ ADHD. To avoid medication, we made the efforts to eliminate synthetic food dyes in our kids diets to help combat excessive behavioral issues. From there, I went down the rabbit hole of everything toxic in our lives. Synthetic food dyes, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, etc. What we eat, what we drink, what we visually consume, the amount of sunlight we receive; everything has an impact on our mind & bodies. While we are not yet where we would like to be, we have done our best to eliminate synthetic dyes from our diet, switched to alot of non toxic products in the kitchen such as glass & cast iron in place of plastic & non stick coated cookware, we are beginning to garden & raising chickens. We are ultimately trying to create our own little homestead where our boys can grow up and learn the basics of life. Hot topics: Homebirth/ midwifery Outdoors with children Non toxic switches Synthetic food dyes Facebook: Hippie Mama Household TikTok: hippie_mama_haven

Haven.jpg
ulemans.png

Tony and LeVonna Uekman 
Beef Cattle and Rotational Grazing

Tony and LeVonna Uekman operate a beef cattle operation in Quitman, Arkansas. They purchased their farm in 1995 and mistakenly leased it out for hay. LeVonna attended a Missouri Grazing School shortly after, and was the one who was committed to trying rotational grazing on their farm. Tony was reluctant at first but quickly saw the benefits of subdividing and rotating. They began by grazing stocker cattle on contract and enjoyed years of success. They were featured in a SSAWG video in 2012 about managed intensive grazing of beef cattle, and have continued since then to refine their grazing and water system. Both are recently retired from USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Tony specializes in water systems and is very generous in helping consult with others. He understands the engineering, NRCS specifications and programs, the materials, and the needs of cattle. As long-time graziers and mentors for others, they bring a love for the land and the people who manage it, along with a deep knowledge of how to set up an effective system. Their farm has served as a great model and location for educational events. Currently, they have a cow-calf operation and direct market grass finished beef.

Krista Quinn is a County Extension Agent for Agriculture with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture in Faulkner County. In this role, she provides horticultural education to commercial growers, municipal staff, and home gardeners. Krista also coordinates the Faulkner County Master Gardener program and serves as advisor to the Conway Tree Board. Krista has a B.S. and M.S. in horticulture from the University of Arkansas and is a certified arborist. She has over 20 years of experience working in horticultural education, research, and production. Before joining Extension, Krista served as Urban Forestry Program Coordinator for the Arkansas Forestry Commission and Executive Director of the Arkansas Flower & Garden Show. Fruit Tree Selection & Care Discover which fruit tree varieties thrive in Arkansas and how to help them flourish for years to come. Krista will share which fruit trees grow best in Arkansas, along with practical guidance on where and how to plant them for success. You’ll also learn how to identify and manage common pests and diseases, plus the essential care practices that keep fruit trees healthy and productive.

Additional Presenters

Pat Cotten-Bending Tree Ranch-TexMaster and TMG Goat

Luke Williamson-Williamson Tree Care-Chainsaw safety

Conway Fire Dept-First Aid specific to Homesteading

Whispering Pines Cowboy Church-Dutch oven cooking

Andy Kay-container and small space gardening

NRCS-High Tunnel Grants

Tonya Ernest-Introduction to High Tunnels and High Tunnel Practices

Brit Talent-Air Pruning Beds​

Clyde's Garden PlannerSean Passarra-Mindful Farmer

Heather Butler-Urban farming and Urban Periculture

Lauren Biggs-Homeschooling

Amber Kennon-Homeschooling​

Krista Quinn.jpg
2
4
5
6
7
8

©2026 Central Arkansas Homesteading

bottom of page