Classes & Seminars
Seminars and classes, offered by experts on a wide variety of fascinating topics are happening all weekend at the Alaska Farm & Garden Show. Show admission is $10 for adults, but there is no additional charge for seminars. Simply keep your ticket stub if you wish to attend multiple seminars throughout the weekend.
Last year’s seminars proved to be very popular. The high demand caught us off guard, and we were a bit short on space. We heard you, and this year we are adding plenty of additional seating. Since seating is limited, please consider arriving a little early to register and make sure you have a seat.
How to register for seminars: Please visit the seminar registration desk inside Raven Hall at any time during the Alaska Farm and Garden Show. You will receive a ticket for your desired class.
Saturday Seminars
January 31
10:00
From Tundra to Table: The Art & Science of Alaska Sourdough
Presented by: Maureen Petru
Hoskins Building
Join Maureen for an engaging journey into the history, science, and enduring heritage of sourdough, starting from its ancient origins and tracing its crucial role in Alaska’s Gold Rush era, where prospectors earned the moniker “sourdoughs.” You’ll discover why our northern climate creates distinctive sourdough cultures and learn how to harness wild Alaskan yeasts. We will explore the art and science of sourdough, diving into the microbiology that creates the essential rise and signature tang, and discussing the surprising health benefits, including improvements in nutrient absorption and glycemic index. This year’s workshop features a unique Alaskan-culture sourdough starter – created with wild yeasts adapted for colder climates, Chugach Mountain Range Spring Water, and local Alaskan wheat flour. You will learn the importance of precise measurements and essential tools, gaining the practical confidence needed to build and maintain a strong starter in our northern climate. We will share recipes for a classic sourdough loaf and easy discard crackers. Take home key resources, and stay for a fun giveaway!
11:00
Incubating and Hatching Poultry
Presented by: Robert Betterton
Hoskins Building
We will present an accessible guide designed to welcome poultry enthusiasts of all experience levels. We will introduce the fascinating process of hatching chicks using modern incubators, outlining the incubation best practices, essentials of egg care, troubleshooting tips, and chick care to help anyone achieve hatching success. Making incubation enjoyable, reliable, and easy to understand for everyone. This seminar, taught by Robert Betterton with Brinsea, and sponsored by Alaska Farm Supply, discusses the do’s and don’ts of hatching your own poultry and how to get high hatching rates.
11:00
Container Gardening
Presented by: Pam Fennell
Raven Hall
Discover how easy and rewarding container gardening can be! Join Ken’s Garden Center to learn how to grow thriving vegetables, flowers, and herbs in pots and hanging containers, perfect for patios, porches, and small spaces!
12:00
Sustainable Beekeeping in Alaska
Presented by: Tim Huffman
Hoskins Building
Tim Huffman, owner of Alaska Backyard Beekeeping, practices and promotes sustainable beekeeping using existing colonies to make new colonies and locally mated queens. He consistently overwinters 80% of his colonies and hasn’t purchased new bees in 5 years. He will teach you how to raise happy, healthy bees and how to help them thrive through the Alaska winter.
12:00
How to Start a Cut-Flower Farm in Alaska
Presented by: Misty VanderWeele
Raven Hall
Learn all that it takes to have a successful cut-flower farm in Alaska’s unique short growing climate. Everything from seed to sale with Misty VanderWeele, a 13+ year Alaskan flower farmer from Palmer.
1:00
Micro Homesteading
Presented by: Chris Johnson
Hoskins Building
Chris Johnson is the owner of Sage Mountain Farms and Sage Mountain Dirt Works with life-long experience in farming and homesteading. Learn about micro homesteading: a small-scale sustainable lifestyle to create self sufficiency. The focus will be on raising livestock in Alaska on the micro homestead, including cows, goats, and chickens. There will be discussions on the cost benefit ratio, and things to be aware of when starting this venture!
2:00
Flour Milling and Grains
Presented by: Margaret Loew
Hoskins Building
Learn all the advantages of milling your own flour, bursting with nutrition and flavor! This seminar, presented by Wholy Living, dives into various grain groups, discuss sprouted grains, and gluten free alternatives. Taste the difference! Sign up for bread classes with Margaret and learn to transform one batch of bread dough into 3 loaves, a dozen dinner rolls, and 2 pizza crusts with approximately $10 worth of basic ingredients. You will be astonished how easily you can create nutrient dense foods by milling your own flour!
3:00
Hay Nutrition
Presented by: Bob Robinson
Hoskins Building
Presented by Eckenberg Farms and sponsored by Alaska Farm Supply. One of North America’s top hay growers and producers will present a 10,000 ft view of hay analyses and what they mean to the end user. Start to finish from sampling a stack, the proper way to do this, and sending it off to the lab to be tested. We will emphasize the use of certified labs and explaining the values and the pitfalls of not doing your homework when it comes to proper handling and traceability.
3:00
Introduction to Coturnix Quail
Presented by: Jenna Smith
Raven Hall
Presented by The Quail Life, this class is perfect for anyone interested in learning about Coturnix Quail, whether you are a beginner or an experienced poultry enthusiast. Coturnix Quail, also known as Japanese Quial, are small, hardy birds that make an excellent addition to any backyard or small farm. They are known for their prolific egg laying, ease of care, and ability to thrive in various environments. This class includes a short talk, hands-on activities, and interactive discussions. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, handle quail, share experiences, and connect with quail enthusiasts. This course is ideal for aspiring quail keepers, hobby farmers, and anyone interested in exploring the rewarding world of Coturnix Quail. No prior experience with poultry is required. Just a passion for learning and an interest in these delightful birds.
4:00
Brooding and Raising Chicks
Presented by: Don Dyer
Hoskins Building
In this workshop, Don will guide you through the critical first 20 weeks of your chicken adventure. You will learn how to successfully navigate the process of raising your birds from day-old chicks to mature chickens. He will cover all of the most critical topics including variety choices, brooder setup, temperature, space management, ventilation, sanitation, safety, feed choices, water management, and also the most common mistakes that will kill or harm your chickens during the critical first 20 weeks. There will also be a Question & Answer period at the end. The presentation, notes, and other materials will be posted on the Blog Page at Polaris Hatchery.
4:00
How to Grow Rhodiola – and Make Money Doing It!
Presented by: Petra Illig
Raven Hall
Rhodiola is a hardy, high-value medicinal plant that thrives in cold climates, where few other crops can. Rhodiola Rosea farming in Alaska isn’t just about the individual success of each farm. It is about building a community that supports wellness, sustainability, and the economic health of our beautiful state. In this seminar by Alaska Rhodiola, you will learn how to cultivate, harvest, and process rhodiola, and you will learn how to market and sell your crop to eager customers.
5:00
Alaska Agriculture: Business, Community, and the Role of Farm Bureau
Presented by: Ken Hoffman
Hoskins Building
An honest, practical look at commercial farming in Alaska – the challenges, opportunities, and why Alaska Farm Bureau plays a key role in supporting farmers and the future of Alaska agriculture.
5:00
Dogs 101
Presented by: FFA Career Tech Students
Raven Hall
This Dogs 101 seminar covers essential aspects of every day canine care, including regular ear cleaning, proper exercise, nail trimming, and overall wellness. It will also highlight the FFA vet science program and how students gain hands-on experience caring for, and understanding animal health
Sunday Seminars
February 1
11:00
Alaska Livestock Nutrition
Presented by: Moritz Boettger and Terry Frieson
Hoskins Building
Terry Friesen, with Natures Pride Nutrition, explores the vital intersection between modern animal feeds and today’s livestock husbandry practices, offering clear insight into how nutrition drives performance. He will highlight the types of feeds that deliver the best results, including preferred textures and formulations, while also examining the rapid progression of alternative nutrition and its impact on animal health, productivity, and overall well-being. Moritz Boettger delves into the critical role micronutrients play in the precision of today’s animal diets, highlighting how targeted nutrition drives healthier, more efficient livestock. He will break down the importance of vitamins and minerals while showcasing emerging feed innovations that are reshaping the future of animal nutrition and performance. Sponsored by Alaska Farm Supply
12:00
Micro
Homesteading
Presented by: Chris Johnson
Raven Hall
Chris Johnson is the owner of Sage Mountain Farms and Sage Mountain Dirt Works with life-long experience in farming and homesteading. Learn about micro homesteading: a small-scale sustainable lifestyle to create self sufficiency. The focus will be on raising livestock in Alaska on the micro homestead, including cows, goats, and chickens. There will be discussions on the cost benefit ratio, and things to be aware of when starting this venture!
12:00
Raising Hogs in Alaska
Presented by: Rayne Reynolds
Hoskins Building
Rayne Reynolds, owner of Frozen Oak Farms in Palmer, has a passion for youth in agriculture and has had involvement in 4-H and FFA. In this back-to-back seminar, he draws on decades of hands-on experience and mentorship to share practical, real-world knowledge about raising pigs in Alaska. Topics include breed selection and attributes, feeding efficiency, housing, health care, breeding, and basic pork production.
1:00
Hog Nutrition
Presented by: Rayne Reynolds
Hoskins Building
This seminar will focus on the fundamentals of hog nutrition. Learn how proper nutrition impacts animal health, efficiency, and meat quality, with practical guidance tailored to real-world Alaska farming conditions.
1:00
Seed Germination and Plant Science
Presented by: FFA Career Tech Students
Raven Hall
This seminar explores the basics of seed germination and the key factors that support healthy early plant growth. It also highlights the growing plant science program at Mat-Su Career Tech FFA and its hands-on, student-driven approach.
2:00
Raising Chickens and Turkeys for Meat
Presented by: Don Dyer
Hoskins Building
Yes! The techniques for successfully growing meat birds is VERY different from growing Layer Chickens. In this workshop, Don will guide you through the process of meat chicken and turkey production. You will learn how to successfully navigate the process of raising your birds from day-old chicks to ready to slaughter. He will cover all of the most critical topics including variety choices, brooder setup, temperature, space management, ventilation, sanitation, safety, feed choices, water management, and also the most common mistakes that will kill or harm your birds during the brooding and grow-out phases. There will also be a Question & Answer period at the end. The presentation, notes, and other materials will be posted on the Blog Page at Polaris Hatchery.
3:00
Processing Meat Birds and Turkeys
Presented by: Don Dyer
Hoskins Building
In this workshop, you will learn the tips and tricks of taking the live birds that you have raised and turning them into safe and sellable packaged products. Don will perform a live hands-on demonstration that will show you all of the processing steps and how to do it. There will also be a Question & Answer period at the end. The presentation, notes, and other materials will be posted on the Blog Page at Polaris Hatchery.
3:00
Growing Fruit Trees in Alaska
Presented by: Dan Moore
Raven Hall
Fire Apple Orchards was started in 2000 to provide an opportunity for the Moore family and the public to harvest fresh fruit in Alaska. They are the local experts, growing apples, cherries, plums, pears, and a variety of berries. They also supply hardy fruit trees and bushes to their customers, and they share their knowledge with others to enable them to plant fruit trees and harvest their own fruit. To this end, we experiment with multiple varieties of fruit to find ones that are compatible with our climate. At this seminar, you will learn all about growing, grafting, and nurturing fresh fruit in Alaska!
4:00
Raised Bed Gardening in Alaska, “Just Say Grow”
Presented by: Deb & Ken Blaylock
Hoskins Building
This class will benefit Alaska gardeners of all skill levels. We’ll talk about the benefits and drawbacks of raised beds, bed design and placement, bed fill, what to grow, and other tips and techniques. Deb and Ken Blaylock have been utilizing and creating raised beds in their Palmer area mini farm since 2003. They started with four and now have over 30 different beds of various types and sizes. Don’t reinvent the wheel – come and learn how raised beds can benefit your garden!
4:00
Raising Dairy Goats in Alaska
Presented by: Suzy Crosby
Raven Hall
Considered by many to be the perfect addition to a small homestead, dairy goats are incredibly efficient at converting basic feed into sweet delicious milk. Cottonwood Creek Farm owners Suzy Crosby and Mike Pendergrast are happy to share what they’ve learned on their 25-year journey with these delightful creatures, on topics including what to look for when choosing your goats, tips for setting up your infrastructure, goat health and nutritional needs, safety & sanitation in milk handling, and Goat-o-nomics 101. As the owners of one of Alaska’s longest-running herd share operations, they will share stories about how they got started, give an inside look at how Alaska’s herd share bill was passed in 2021, and offer tips on starting your own herd share program. For those interested in a deeper dive into goat ownership, ask about their on-going mentorship program, where participants have the opportunity to learn basic goat care in a hands-on setting, including how to handle and lead a goat, how to milk a goat, how to trim feet, give supplements, critique conformation, and more. You’ll leave today’s session with a whole new appreciation for what dairy goats can do for your homestead, and a list of great resources for further reading.