Virginia Country Living Festival this weekend at Augusta Expo

Monique Calello, Staunton News Leader
·3 min read

FISHERSVILLE – The Virginia Country Living Festival is this weekend at Augusta Expo on Saturday and Sunday, March 18-19.

The line-up of speakers, workshops and demonstrations are for homesteading families, hobby farmers, backyard gardeners, rural landowners, weekend rural enthusiasts, and others looking for ways to live sustainable and self-sufficient lives.

Family-friendly, the weekend will bring together a community of like-minded individuals for two days packed with valuable information, homesteading education and entertainment.

Some things you can look forward to:

  • Guest speakers and presenters

  • Vendors (relevant to homesteading, gardening, farming and living your best country life)

  • Workshops

  • Demonstrations

  • Live music

  • Door prizes

  • Kidzone

SCHEDULE — Saturday, March 18

REMAX STAGE — Saturday

  • 10 a.m. Raising meat rabbits

  • 11 a.m. Capriculture – goats

  • Noon Solar for the homestead

  • 1 p.m. The homestead cow

  • 2 p.m. Alpacas

  • 3 p.m. Music by Dianne Byrer

  • 4 p.m. Homestead/farm insurance

  • 5 p.m. Music by Dianne Byrer

FARM CREDIT STAGE — Saturday

  • 11 a.m. Basic preparedness

  • Noon Benefits of barn cats

  • 1 p.m. Raising chickens

  • 2 p.m. Processing meat birds (chickens & quail)

  • 3 p.m. Sourdough bread basics

  • 4 p.m. Choosing a firearm for the homestead

DEMOS — Saturday

  • 10:30 a.m. Making plant-based milk at Pampered Chef booth

  • 2:30 p.m. Quick pickle prep @ Pampered Chef booth

SCHEDULE — Sunday, March 19

REMAX STAGE — Sunday

  • 10 a.m. Cowboy church

  • 11 a.m. Raising quails

  • Noon Pastured pigs

  • 1 p.m. How not to buy a problem farm

  • 2 p.m. Seed starting

  • 3 p.m. Vegetable gardening advice

  • 4 p.m. Composting

  • 5 p.m. Music

FARM CREDIT STAGE — Sunday

  • 11 a.m. Safe home canning practices

  • Noon Getting started with bees

  • 1 p.m. Goat cheese

  • 2 p.m. Mountain Heritage cloggers

  • 3 p.m. Homestead first aid

  • 4 p.m. Alpacas

DEMOS — Sunday

  • 10:30 a.m. Making nut butters at Pampered Chef booth

  • 2:30 p.m. Meal prep solutions at Pampered Chef booth

Speakers/presenters

  • Kevin Blackburn, Leeson Strategic: Topics — First Aid and survival preparedness

  • Cowboy Church, Pastor Ray Bell — Sunday morning praise and worship

  • Becky Gartner, Virginia Extension Cooperative: Topic — Food preservation basics

  • Caitlin Walls, Happy Humblestead: Topics — Quail and meat rabbits

  • Ryan Duckett, Virginia Composting Council: Topic — Compost

  • Dennis Harvey, Doubletap Shooting Supply: Topics — Firearm selection and safety

  • Kristin Shawver Forsyth, Home baker: Topic — Basics of sourdough bread

  • Bill Gartner, Shenandoah Bee Supply and Green Acres Apiary: Topic — Beginner beekeeping

  • Rick Williams, Rockingham Insurance: Topic — Homestead insurance needs

  • Mindy Lipinski, Revercomb Farms: Topics — Raising pastured pigs and chicken processing

Location

  • Augusta Expo, 277 Expo Road, Fishersville

Date & Time

  • March 18-19

  • Doors open at 9 a.m. Presentations 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cost

  • Adult tickets: $15 per day

  • Kid tickets (4-12): $10 per day

  • Children 3 and under are free

  • Vendor pass: $10

Tickets can be pre-purchased online or purchased at the door. Questions can be emailed to VaCountryLivingFestival@gmail.com.

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This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Virginia Country Living Festival this weekend at Augusta Expo