RuthAnn Zimmerman lives on a 22-acre homestead in northeast Iowa with her husband, Elvin, and their five children. RuthAnn and Elvin also have two adult daughters, two sons-in-law, and one grandson. Ruth’s writing has appeared in several print and online publications, including Homesteaders of America, Homestead Mamas, and The Homegrown Sourcebook and soon coming book, The Heart of the Homestead. On her popular website and YouTube, she shares about homesteading, parenting, and cooking.
Ruth Ann shares “As our family grew so did our collection of animals and that’s how the Zimmerman homestead evolved into what you see now. That is how we ended up with 2 milk cows, freezers full of homegrown beef, pork and chicken and enough chores to keep developing the character of our family. Me included. More than I love my family milk cows and all the raw dairy nutrition they provide for us, more than I love gardening and filling the larder with baskets of root crops and the shelves with jars of produce, more than I love raising my chickens on pasture and gathering their eggs, More than I love watching the beef steers grazing in seas of grass, more than all of that, I love the opportunity this lifestyle gives our family to develop the character qualities that bring honor and glory to our Heavenly Father. RuthAnn will be speaking about Real Life Homesteading: Not the Social Media Version of Homesteading, Eating Seasonally and Regionally Part 1 and Part 2, and Homesteading for the Right Reasons.
Dr. Jocelin Whitaker, ND, PhD, was born and raised in Orlando, Florida but happily calls the Bellville, Ohio area home where she lives with her husband and daughter in the country on a 44 acre organic farm. As a homeschool student, she was able to include her interest in natural medicine in her studies laying a strong foundation as well as her personal interest in approaching health from Biblical and natural methods. She is a Doctor of Traditional Naturopathy (N.D.) and Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Health (PhD) as well as having her degrees as a Certified Aromatherapist (CA), Doctor of Biblical Medicine (D.B.M.), Certified Nutritional Counselor (C.N.C.), Holistic Health Practitioner Degree (HHP), and Certified Chaplain in Holistic Approaches (C.C.H.A.) from New Eden School of Natural Health and Herbal Studies as well as Certified Fertility Counselor (CFC) and Certified BioEnergetic Technician. She is also the author the recently published book – The Real Truth About the Danger of Stevia and Xylitol. As a Naturopath, her practice is located at their health food homesteading store where they support the local natural, organic, and homesteading communities. As a farmer’s wife and avid “homesteader”, she and her husband, Marc, facilitate a monthly homesteaders gathering in their community. She cans, gardens, homeschools, knits, crochets, scrapbooks, and more in addition to raising meat chickens and laying hens, dairy and beef cattle, running a raw milk herdshare, and raising their own hay! Dr Jocelin will be speaking about Anyone Can Homestead, Herbal First Aid on the Homestead, Natural and Herbal Animal Health, and the Family Dairy Animal especially the Family Milk Cow as well as serving as your hostess along with her husband, Marc, who will serve as your host.
Joel Kurtz is a agronomist and organic inspector. Joel and his wife Christina both grew up on a dairy farm in Holmes County. Their interest in local healthy foods mostly started after they were married and started having children. They have 1 son and 2 daughters. Two children are married and all are in their lower 20s. Joel and Christina owned and operated a cooperative CSA with other small growers from 2008 through 2013. Joel and Christina also operate a home business teaching people about the benefits of eating freshly ground grains instead of pre-milled flours. They sell grains, grain milling equipment, and teach how to bake with fresh ground grains. Currently Joel works at Maysville Elevator as an agronomist helping local farmers and gardeners grow nutrient dense foods from healthy soils. Joel’s focus is assisting growers with managing soil and plant health through the use of cover crops, biology management, crop testing, soil testing, water testing, and soil amendments. By being the farmer’s servant and student, he has the privilege of observing and learning from the farmer what works and what does not work to grow nutrient dense foods. Joel will be speaking about “Soil is the Root of it All: How to Nourish Your Soil for Your and Your Animals Health.”
James Mast, Off-grid solar system enthusiast! Since 2015, James has had a front row seat in the off-grid solar industry that has gone from difficult and impractical to easy and efficient. His company, Envirosol, has been instrumental in bringing in the era of lithium iron phosphate batteries that have replaced their high-maintenance, lead acid counterparts. James currently fills an advisory role at Envirosol and serves as a managing partner at Rubix Battery LLC. James will be speaking about “Solar for the Homestead.”
Monroe Stutzman is a farmer, husband, and father who brings a wealth of gentle knowledge to the table which he graciously and humbly shares. Monroe and his wife, Martha, along with 4 girls and 3 boys own and manage Stutzman Farms in Holmes County, Ohio. They have appointed organic farmers to grow specialty crops that they store, clean, dehull, grind, and puff into cereal as they receive orders for their products. In the evening, they go home 3 miles away from their shop to their 68 acre grass based farm where they raise beef, pork, and some chicken to sell in their store at the mill. Two-thirds of their products are sold at wholesale to bulk food stores, organic markets, bakeries, farmer’s markets, and more. Monroe will be speaking about “Beginning to Grow Grain on the Homestead” and one of the speakers doing the Grain Q&A.
Aaron Hershberger, his wife, Elmina, along with their family operate an organic dairy in Holmes County producing grass milk for Organic Valley. They treasure the opportunity to work together and find pleasure in the wonders of nature around them. They also run a barn washing business, so they live the life of balancing family, farm, and faith. Aaron will be speaking about “Balancing Life, Family, and Homesteading.”
Nick Houmard and his wife, Leigh-ann, began homesteading in 2010. They have a small farm south of Butler, Ohio. They have an informative youtube channel for their farm, Hotrod Homestead, where they inspire DIY projects in both agriculture and automotive.
They grow produce and raise chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, and cattle as naturally as possible. Each year, they continue to learn and grow toward the goal of self sustainability.
Nick’s background in automotive/farm mechanics, fabrication, and restoration over the last 25+ years has enabled them to maintain and repair all of their own equipment. Nick also has 17+ years teaching automotive and mechanics in both vocational and private company settings. Nick will be speaking about “Getting Started with Equipment on the Homestead.”
Jeremy Clift along with his wife Gesila, are the owners and operators of Wakatomika Homestead in East Central Ohio. Wakatomika Homestead is a very diversified farm with the main focus being on the raw milk herdshare they run, milking Jersey cows and a mixed dairy goat herd. Wakatomika also offers hands on homestead based classes on their farm including cheese making, butchering, food preservation, and many more. Jeremy is also a part time writer, with his articles being featured in such publications as Plain Interest, Countryside, and Mother Earth News.
Jeremy will be speaking about “Sorghum: A New Idea for Homesteaders” and one of the speakers doing the Grain Q&A.
Maurissa Gruneisen is a wife and mother, who both homesteads and homeschools her three children. Maurissa and her husband, Daniel, have cows (meat and dairy), milking goats, chickens, and a large garden. You might find Maurissa spinning wool, chasing a goat, or in the kitchen trying out a new recipe. Maurissa will be speaking about Family Dairy Animal especially the Family Milk Goat.
Elisha Slabaugh is a midwife, wife, and mother who loves milking her sheep. She and her husband, Chris, along with their four children enjoy homesteading with sheep (dairy), chickens, and a large garden. Chris farms for a large organic farmer in the area, so their experience is quite varied! Elisha will be speaking about Family Dairy Animal especially the Family Milk Sheep.