Homesteading Conference Still Draws Crowd Despite Weather

RISON - With local forecasts predicting more than an 80 percent chance of rain, attendance at this year’s Arkansas Homesteading Conference held in Rison Saturday was down from last  year’s recording-setting crowd, but was a little better than expected.Britt Talent, publisher of the Cleveland County Herald and organizer of the Arkansas Homesteading Conference, said the overall number of attendees (not including vendors and speakers) was over 100, which is about a third of what showed up last year.“There’s no question that the weather played a major role, and perhaps Spring Break as well,” Talent said about the attendance. “Last year we had some cold temperatures but sunny conditions. This year it was warmer but there was rain in the forecast. Since a lot of our activities and demonstrations are centered around things people do outdoors, the rain put a damper on that.”While there was never any heavy rain, Talent said there were a few temporary light showers that lingered until early afternoon.Still, he said the event had a far-reaching appeal with several attending from across the state as well as out of state. Talent said he had chance to visit with one couple from southeast Mississippi who traveled about six hours to make the conference. “They told me they came last year and liked it so much they wanted to come back this year,” he said.Talent said he is considering starting the conference about an hour later next year to accommodate those who drive in for the event.This year’s conference had several new presenters. Sona Gardner of Puddin’ Ridge Fibers near  Ozark demonstrated how she takes hair from alpacas and llamas, and spins it into fiber. Kevin Jones of Blackjack Blooms and Berries near Mansfield discussed how he converted a small portion his family’s former 130-acre commercial strawberry farm into a “regenerative” farm that mimics natural growing methods. Jones once served as th...