Indiana Homesteading Conference
October 21-22, 2023
Rain or Shine

Tickets NOW available!

Partnering to teach Sustainable Living Skills and Encourage Community.

The Indiana Homesteading Conference has a mission to support people in obtaining a more sustainable lifestyle and to promote homesteading skills for people at all levels of interest and skill. We have seen so many people who want to reconnect to a more down-to-earth approach to living and eating, but they feel overwhelmed and don't know what to do. Our hope is to provide support that will build resiliency in families and communities and have a lasting impact.

In addition, we want to build partnerships with people and businesses who have a passion for this issue, and to encourage relationships at the local level with people who would like to reduce their dependence on big systems and learn from each other. We would like to be a support in building local educational connections, and even encourage the development of a way for people to trade goods and services with each other. Grassroots movements that encourage community are always the most beneficial.

Join us in this passion and movement that has been growing significantly over time. 

More 2023 Speakers Posted Soon. Some are returning from last year.

Joel Salatin, Polyface Farm, Editor of The Stockman Grass Farmer


Speaker on Both Saturday & Sunday, Writer & Trainer

Shawn & Beth Dougherty, THE ONE-COW REVOLUTION a grass-fed homestead


Speakers on Both Saturday & Sunday, Writers & Trainers

Pork Rhyne,“The Pork Evangelist,”


Speaker on Both Saturday & Sunday, Livestock Educator & Farm Marketing Coach

Hunter Smith, From NFL Football to Farmer & Musician


Speaker, Super Bowl Champion for the Indianapolis Colts

More Speakers & Schedules Coming Soon

Our speakers such as Joel Salatin, Shawn & Beth Dougherty, and Pork Rhyne are all planning to speak on both Saturday & Sunday, and we will be offering intensive workshops with them as well. (Intensive workshops such as butchering will be limited to a much smaller group and will be a separate ticket. We will have those tickets available in a few weeks.) We are working long and hard to develop our programming, solidify complex schedules, and write up outlines for the rest of our speakers. It may be awhile before all of that is nailed down. With at least 20 speaker sessions per day to choose from and additional skill building activities such as intensive workshops and demonstrations on a variety of topics, we are confident that you will be able to find an abundance of learning opportunities to grow in your sustainable living skills. Please take a look at the topics listed on this website to give you an overview of the many sessions we are developing. We plan to have identified learning tracks for Beginners, Intermediate, and Experienced Learners throughout the event.

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Lehman's Amish Made Goods

Sponsor

Azure Standard, healthy organic foods & natural products at family-friendly prices

Sponsor

Plain Values, “A Magazine on a Mission to Find Joy in the Simple Things”

Sponsor

Rural King, Farm & Home Store

Sponsor

Starkline, H&K Smart Fence, Raise, Grow, Go

Sponsor

GrainMaker, The Finest Grain Mills in the World

Sponsor

Aftershock Preparedness

Sponsor

Mother Earth News Bookstore, The Original Guide to Living Wisely

Sponsor

Weston A. Price Foundation, Wise Traditions in Food Farming, & Healing Arts

Sponsor

Fertrell, Natural & Organic fertilizers & Feed Supplements “healing the earth and feeding the world better naturally!”

Sponsor

Homestead Education, Homestead Homeschool Curriculum & Support

Sponsor

Tree City Bee Company

Sponsor

Mt. Healthy Hatcheries

Sponsor

Overgrown Pasture, Farm-fresh, Street Cuisine

Sponsor

Premier 1 Supplies, Electric Netting, Poultry, Sheep & Goat Supplies, Clippers & Shearers

Sponsor

The Hive Butler, Bee Hive Management Tools

Sponsor

CROSSROADS Portable Buildings, Sheds, Barns, Greenhouses, Coops, Garages, Post & Frame Buildings, More

Sponsor

Freedom Focus LLC, Firearms Training

Sponsor

Cousins Compost LLC, Composting & Garden Supplies, Worms, Compost

Sponsor

Hidden Hollow Honey Co, Beekeeping Supplies, Training, Freeze Dryers, & Honey

Sponsor

Modern Homestead Podcast

Sponsor

Brinsea, The Incubation Specialists

Sponsor

Country Life Foods, Healthy Eating Made Simple

Sponsor

Denali Canning, Canners, Dehydrators, Canning Lids

Sponsor

Growing Success Farm, LLC

Sponsor

Soteria Forge, Knives crafted with the finest materials, basic knife making and leather working classes

Sponsor

Redmond Agriculture

Sponsor

Indiana Association of Home Educators

Sponsor

Field & Forest Products, Mushrooms Spawn, Cultivation Supplies, & Education

Sponsor

Click "READ MORE" below for the Link to Buy Tickets on Ticket Leap. Please Review TICKET TYPES BEFORE GOING TO TICKET LEAP TO PURCHASE TICKETS. Please Note: This is a Rain or Shine Event

Please Be Aware That Ticket Leap Charges a Fee for Each Ticket Purchased

Adult- Saturday Only, Conference Only Ticket- $27.50

ADULT- CONFERENCE TICKET - SATURDAY ONLY

Adult- Sunday Only, Conference Only Pass- $27.50

ADULT- CONFERENCE PASS - SUNDAY ONLY

Adult- Double Day Conference Ticket- $45

ADULT- CONFERENCE ONLY WEEKEND PASS (SAVE $10)

Adult- Saturday Combo Ticket- $54.50

ADULT- CONFERENCE PASS SATURDAY + HOG ROAST/BAND

Adult- Whole Hog Combo Ticket- $72

Adult- All Weekend Conference Pass with Hog Roast and Hootenanny on Sat Evening (SAVE $10)

Adult- Hog Roast and Hootenanny Only Add-on Ticket- $27

For those who are not buying tickets but need to be at the event.. such as volunteers

Youth- Saturday Only, Conference Only- $10

YOUTH (13-17) CONFERENCE PASS SATURDAY ONLY

Youth- Sunday Only, Conference Only- $10

YOUTH (13-17) CONFERENCE PASS SUNDAY ONLY

Youth- Double Day Combo- $17

Youth (13-17) CONFERENCE WEEKEND PASS (SAVE $3)

Youth- Saturday Combo Ticket- $30

YOUTH (13-17) CONFERENCE PASS SATURDAY + HOG ROAST

Youth- 3 Pigs Weekend + Combo Pass- $37

YOUTH (13-17)- CONFERENCE WEEKEND PASS + HOG ROAST/BAND (SAVE $3)

Youth- Hog Roast and Hootenanny Add-on- $20

For those who are not buying tickets but need to be at the event.. such as volunteers

Jr. Homesteaders Classes, Saturday Only- $20

KIDS 5-12 JR. HOMESTEADERS CLASSES SATURDAY ONLY

Jr. Homesteaders Classes, Sunday Only- $20

KIDS 5-12 JR. HOMESTEADERS CLASSES SUNDAY ONLY

Child- Little Pig Saturday Only, Conference Only Pass- Free

CHILD (12 AND UNDER) CONFERENCE PASS SATURDAY ONLY

Child- Little Pig Sunday Conference Only- Free

Child (12 and Under) Conference Pass Sunday Only- Free

Child- Little Pigs Duo Weekend Pass Conference Only- Free

CHILD (12 AND UNDER) CONFERENCE WEEKEND PASS

Child- Saturday Combo Conference + Hog Roast Combo Pass- $14

CHILD (5-12) SATURDAY NIGHT - HOG ROAST/BAND

Child- 3 Little Pigs Weekend Triple Combo- Conference + Hog Roast- $14

CHILD (12 AND UNDER) CONFERENCE WEEKEND PASS

Young CHILD- Piglet's Weekend Out Combo ticket- Free

Young CHILD (0-4)- Weekend Conference + HOG ROAST/BAND

ADULT PRESALE- Adult CONFERENCE T-SHIRT, Heather Gray- $17 (save $3)

By purchasing this ticket you will be purchasing an Indiana Homesteading Conference 2023 Conference T-Shirt at a discounted rate that will be available at check in of the event.

ADULT PRESALE- Adult CONFERENCE T-SHIRT, Army Green- $17 (save $3)

By purchasing this ticket you will be purchasing an Indiana Homesteading Conference 2023 Conference T-Shirt at a discounted rate that will be available at check in of the event.

ADULT PRESALE- Adult CONFERENCE T-SHIRT, Black- $17 (save $3)

By purchasing this ticket you will be purchasing an Indiana Homesteading Conference 2023 Conference T-Shirt at a discounted rate that will be available at check in of the event.

ADULT 2XL & 3XL PRESALE- Adult CONFERENCE T-SHIRTS, Gray- $19 (save $3)

By purchasing this ticket you will be purchasing an Indiana Homesteading Conference 2023 Conference 2X-3XL T-Shirt at a discounted rate that will be available at check in of the event.

ADULT 2XL & 3XL PRESALE- Adult CONFERENCE T-SHIRTS, Army Green- $19 (save $3)

By purchasing this ticket you will be purchasing an Indiana Homesteading Conference 2023 Conference 2X-3XL T-Shirt at a discounted rate that will be available at check in of the event.

ADULT 2XL & 3XL PRESALE- Adult CONFERENCE T-SHIRTS, Black- $19 (save $3)

By purchasing this ticket you will be purchasing an Indiana Homesteading Conference 2023 Conference 2X-3XL T-Shirt at a discounted rate that will be available at check in of the event.

YOUTH PRESALE- Youth CONFERENCE T-SHIRT, Heather Gray- $12 (save $3)

By purchasing this ticket you will be purchasing an Indiana Homesteading Conference 2023 Conference Youth T-Shirt at a discounted rate that will be available at check in of the event.

YOUTH PRESALE- Youth CONFERENCE T-SHIRT, Army Green- $12 (save $3)

By purchasing this ticket you will be purchasing an Indiana Homesteading Conference 2023 Conference Youth T-Shirt at a discounted rate that will be available at check in of the event.

YOUTH PRESALE- Youth CONFERENCE T-SHIRT, Black- $12 (save $3)

By purchasing this ticket you will be purchasing an Indiana Homesteading Conference 2023 Conference Youth T-Shirt at a discounted rate that will be available at check in of the event.

Hog Roast & hootenanny image


HOG ROAST & HOOTENANNY 2023
Saturday October 21st, just following the last session of the conference.

Join us for a casual, family-style hog roast with all the fixins!
  • Hot appetizer course passed before dinner 
  • Whole Roasted Hog (A portion prepared for Hog Cubanos/ pork sandwiches)
  • Assorted sides (6 hot options and 6 cold options) from Mac & Cheese to cowboy beans
  • Freshly baked cornbread and biscuits
  • Dessert selection: (Pies, pastry, & ice cream)
Beverage service:
(Coffee, cider, tea, water)

Overgrown Pasture is run by a trained chef preparing high quality cuisine. You will smell this roasting hog all day at the conference on Saturday, so be prepared to be hungry for this hog roast!

RV & Camping at Fairgrounds

RV & Camping at Fairgrounds

*RV and Camping spots are Rented through the Marion County Fairgrounds 


Location:  Marion County Fairgrounds7300 E Troy Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46239

Contact:     https://marioncountyfair.org/

                     317-353-2444

                     marioncountyfair@comcast.net  

Cost:  RV Hookups with water & power- $50 per night (no RV dump station available)

            Primitive Tent Camping- No water or power at campsite- $25 per night

            Bathrooms are available on the property

Availability:  There are 70 RV sites available with water and electricity. There are many more primitive camping sites available.

Dates of Rental:   Friday October 20th and Saturday October 21st

Arrival:  Campers may arrive Friday, 10/20/22 during set up

Tear Down:  Sunday, 10/22/23 after close of event. This will reduce vehicle traffic while there is foot traffic at the event

Please note:  The fairgrounds will provide all instructions and payment processes for rental of camping or RV spaces. Filling out an RV/Camping application does not guarantee rental until the fairgrounds confirms your reservation. Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis.

Camping Reservation Form for Marion County Fairgrounds:  Open PDF form below, print, fill out, scan, and submit to the Fairgrounds Office by email to marioncountyfair@comcast.net. If you need assistance, call the fairgrounds office at 317-353-2444.


Security will be on duty Friday, Saturday, and through Sunday at the end of the event. The fairgrounds campus is over 120 acres.

The entire property is fenced and gated.



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Please arrive early to accommodate for checking everyone in, getting your conference bags, finding your way, etc. Check-in starts at 7:30 AM each day. The fairgrounds is fully fenced. Cars will only be checked in at the Grounds Entry Gate 1, and there will be no other way to enter. Parking attendants will be available to help direct everyone. There are 4 gates, but it should be evident which gate you need, due to parking, security, & check-in staff being present.

TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE. PLEASE SEE THE TICKETS PAGE ON THIS WEBSITE. 2023 Conference will be located at the Marion County Fairgrounds, just outside the I 465 loop east, of Indianapolis. PLEASE SEE READ MORE SECTION BELOW FOR MORE INSTRUCTIONS & INFO.

  • Date: 10/21/2023 09:00 AM - 10/22/2023 06:00 PM
  • Location: Marion County Fairgrounds, 7300 E Troy Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46239 (Map)

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Volunteers- Info & Perks

Volunteers- Info & Perks


Help us make the 2023 conference a success and sign up to become a volunteer! Volunteers are an essential part of our homesteading conference. We are better organized this year, and we hope that we are better able to plug volunteers in to tasks and roles. 


There is a link below that will take you to a required application. You will receive an e-mail confirming receipt of your application. We will be in touch with applicants in the next couple of months to confirm attendance and placement (it could be as late as early August - we appreciate your patience).


  • Completion of the volunteer application is not a guarantee of volunteer placement.
  • Each volunteer is required to work one half-day shift, which is up to 5 hours on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
  • Volunteers receive free admission to the regular conference sessions (valued at $45, weekend ticket) but this does not include admission to separate ticketed events; such as the hog roast meal, or specialized intensive workshop trainings.
  • You will receive a wristband in your volunteer bag that indicates you have a weekend conference pass just like other attendees. Wristbands are color coded to indicate what type of ticket an attendee has. You can check in at the conference table, and you will pick up your volunteer bag at the volunteer table in the main vendor hall.
  • Please be aware: Morning shifts can begin as early as 6 a.m. and volunteers can be on their feet for 5 hours or more.

If you're concerned that you won't be selected as a volunteer but want to make sure you can attend the conference, we recommend that you purchase a ticket in advance. Please note that we will not be able to refund ticket sales.


If you have physical limitations, please take those into consideration when selecting your volunteer choices. If you have limitations, please tell us in the comments section of the application to clarify the requirements for the position you’re requesting. We will do our best to accommodate our volunteers.


  • One application per volunteer.
  • Must be 18 years old to apply.
  • If you have children attending with you, they must stay with a guardian during your shift.
  • You must be able to stand or walk for up to 6 hours to volunteer. Other physical capabilities may be required depending on the position chosen.
  • If you do not show up for your scheduled shift(s) after collecting your admittance wristband you will be invoiced for the cost of a weekend pass ticket for your attendance of the event. Wristbands for volunteers will be picked up at the volunteer table inside the Vendor Hall/Marketplace.

Fill out Volunteer Application Here

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  • Marion County Fairgrounds 7300 E Troy Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46239, USA

VENDOR TABLES CONTACT: IHCvendors@gmail.com Location for the 2023 Conference will be Marion County Fairgrounds that's just East of 465 E.


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Vendor & Food Truck Info

Vendor & Food Truck Info

 ****8' x 10' Vendor Space, Inside (More Spots Now Available!! We have added another Building for Vendors!)- $150.00 for both days 

(1 - 8' table and 2 chairs provided)


Food Truck Info Link Located at Bottom of This Page


Event Days: October 21 and 22 (Vendors must be set up for the whole conference)

Location: Marion County Fairgrounds, 7300 E Troy Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46239

Event Times: Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm

Early Set-UpFriday: 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm (there may be special considerations for food truck timing, but you will receive communications on specifics)

Set-up: Saturday: 6:30-7:30 am. (Booths must be set-up by 7:30 am when attendees start check-in for the conference)

Tear Down: Sunday 4:15 pm

Please note: Your vendor fee does not include admittance to the conference sessions. If you want to attend any of the sessions, you will need to purchase a conference pass separately. You can also purchase tickets for the Saturday evening hog roast on the website. Tickets can be purchased here:  

 www.indianahomesteadingconference.com/tickets. 


**Please NOTE

This is a homesteading/farming/landowner/homeowner/gardening/livestock conference. Please consider whether your business is relevant to this topic or something our attendees would enjoy. We can't guarantee sales or traffic to your vending space.


BOOTH ADD-ONS:

Additional Tables — $10 each (1 table provided with booth) (inside only)

Additional Chairs — $5 each (2 chairs provided with booth) (inside only)

Electricity - Provided if needed (inside and outside)Water - Provided if needed (outside only) 


Vendor Application Link

Food Truck Application Link

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Please consider partnering with us at the Indiana Homesteading Conference. Our attendees have a desire to develop  infrastructure in order to reconnect to growing food and developing sustainable living skills.

Contact Rhonda Fowler at indianahomesteadingconference@gmail.com for more information.