Speakers and Demonstrations
We believe that homesteaders in the Northeast gain a unique set of skills over the years that allow us to meet the challenges of the region head on. Our speakers and demonstrators all possess the knowledge needed to speak on topics in a fashion that makes sense for those of us living where it could be 60º and sunny one day, and snowing the next.

Note: The Foraging Walks carry an additional fee of $10 per person, payable at the main entrance. Tickets are limited.
Our Speakers

Morgan Gold
After leaving the suburbs of Washington, DC and moving to an abandoned dairy farm in Northern Vermont, Morgan faced the daunting task of rebuilding the property back into a working farm. Through the use of social media, he has been able to share his story with over 600,000 subscribers on YouTube and 2 million followers on TikTok.

Al Lumnah
Recognizing that they wanted a more simple life, Al and family moved from Massachusetts back up to northern NH almost 10 years ago to live closer to the land. They have recently purchased a large parcel of raw land to homestead on, and have built their own off grid home, cleared pastures, and are soon to be protein independent, raising all their own meat. With a background in construction, Al is knowledgable on the challenges we face in New England, and how to best design a homestead to work around those challenges.

Troy McClung
Together with his wife Kelly and two sons, Tory owns a small family farm located in Southern West Virginia, tucked away on 100 rural acres. What was once an abandoned farm and dump has been rehabilitated over the years to return to a functioning farm. Having learned how to utilize the hilly terrain to their advantage for raising forest pastured pork, Troy now educates others on how to do the same via the Red Tool House YouTube channel.

Eli Mack
Eli started his farming life earlier than most, purchasing his first cattle at age 12, having worked all summer to save up enough money to not only purchase a bull and heifer, but also the fencing supplies required to house them. A passionate grazier and steward of the land, Eli is a Savory Institute Accredited Professional and Holistic Management educator, allowing him to help others achieve their regenerative grazing goals.
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Ginger Stevenson
If you've ever tuned into a Hatching Day Live on McMurray's Instagram page, you've probably met Ginger. As the Director of Marketing for the oldest hatchery in the country, she is well versed in all aspects of poultry, and the current trends of happening in the poultry industry. When she isn't writing the email blasts and answering questions on MacMurray's Facebook about chickens or attending various homesteading events around the country, she enjoys traveling with her family.

Rich Giordano
Rich has spent the last 27 years of his life dedicated to bringing agriculture into the lives of others. From managing and maintaining the botanical gardens at Old Sturbridge Village, to doing educational outreach and orchard design with the American Chestnut Foundation. His days are now spent playing in the edible forest and gardens he has built at All Hill Farm, and teaching others the skills they need to do the same.

Jamie McMillan
With years under his belt as both a landscaper and gardener, Jamie has become a go to source for those looking to create sustainable landscapes here in the Northeast. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Planning, and is a Certified Permaculture Design Educator. His company, McMillan Eco Design, designs landscapes that are both ecologically appropriate for the region, and sensible to maintain.

Emily Makrez
Emily is the owner of F-Word Farm: a place for Farming, Foraging and Fermenting. Her interest in food and science brought her to Seattle to pursue a Master's degree in Nutrition at Bastyr University, but her love of New England brought her back home to start F-Word Farm. She’s passionate about foraging, caring for the soil, and food preservation via fermentation (lacto, koji, vinegar, & alcoholic). Her focus is on using every last bit of what nature provides and making it taste delicious.

Kendall Kunelius
Kendall holds a BS in Equine Studies: Industry and Management from UNH and has a diverse background in the agriculture industry including horticulture, forestry, livestock, and agricultural business retail management. She is also an avid home gardener with a particular interest in perennials and vegetable gardening in raised beds. Kendall is a poultry enthusiast, caring for two flocks of chickens for eggs, garden fertilizer and companionship.

Dominic DeMaria
After moving to New Hampshire from western New York in 2020, Dominic left his career as a chef to become a realtor. He loves the country life, and specializes in helping people buy rural homes and undeveloped land. Dominic covers all regions of New Hampshire.
Our Demonstrators

Al Meissner
Al sheared his first sheep in the spring of 2015. After attending several weekend shearing schools in Maine and Ohio, and working under the apprenticeship of another local shearer, Al began shearing sheep locally for small farms around New England. Since then, he has shorn over 100,000 sheep in the United States, Australia, and Chile. Al has shorn sheep in 15 states across the country, but now only covers New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont, shearing sheep, alpacas, and angora goats for over 150 different New England farms and homesteads.

John Maynard
John is a retired Air Force veteran who operates AOR Farmstead in Sutton, NH. Along with his wife Erin, the two raise pigs, sheep, chickens, and geese. Wanting to be part of the entire lifecycle of the farm. John took his first chicken processing class back in 2014. Now, every bird that is processed for his farmstead is done on property. Focusing on happy animals, John shares his passion for food and farmsteading whenever he gets the chance!