THE SELF-RELIANCE FESTIVAL
October 1 & 2
Take control of your future. Master new things.
ONLINE TICKETS AVAILABLE
TICKETS: $75
LOCATION: 4631 Highway 70 E, Camden, TN 38320
GATES OPEN AT: 8:00 AM
Join us for presentations, demonstrations, vendor exhibits, community, and fun activities!
The Self-Reliance Festival at Special Operations Equipment gives you a close-up view of both strategic and tactical skills. The many thoroughly practical demonstrations include emergency medical training, aquaponics, defense dogs, canning, blacksmithing, spinning, and permaculture design.
PANELS & PRESENTATIONS
Check back often: we’re finalizing a wonderful set of presenters and topics. Here’s what we have to date.
See highlights of the June 2022 Self-Reliance Festival here.
Take Heart and Get Going
Nicole Sauce
We don’t know exactly what’s coming, but that’s no excuse for spinning in place. Pull up your work boots and start doing.
Aquaponics
Jack Spirko
The practical facts, feasible yields, and how-to when you grow plants in nutrient-rich water.
Dependence or DIY? Your Choice
John Willis
No one knows how to make a serious topic both deep and engrossing the way John Willis does.
Self-Sustaining Farmstead
Billy Bond
It takes planning to run a thoroughly efficient smallhold. Here’s an expert’s approach.
Be True to Yourself
Thecia Ellis
60-year-old homesteading/prepping grandmother, essentially alone, navigates the ups, downs, and sometimes funny happenings of an older woman who just won’t quit.
Protection K9s
Joel Ryals
A Protection Dog can make you, your family, and your home safer. Watch Joel and his dogs in action.
Topic to be announced
Panel Discussion
Billy Bond, Nicole Sauce, John Willis, … and more
We’ll let you know as soon as we do!
Bridging the Personality Gap
Ken Eash
How to understand, adapt, and relate to others to strengthen your network whether times get tough, or even if they don’t.
Livefree Academy
John Bush
Turning Content into Currency
Toolman Tim Cook
Building a successful content creation lifestyle.
Feed Store Independence
Nick Ferguson
Take advantage of the abundance of meat possible with a herd of rabbits.
In the Zone
Michael Whisler
Understand the theory of “Flow,” in which skill and challenge are balanced, decisions become instantaneous, and the perception of time shifts.
Topic to be announced
Nicole Sauce, Jack Spirko, Tim Cook
…we’ll let you know as soon as we do!
Proper Human Diet
Dr. Ken Berry
We’re working toward an exciting announcement.
DEMONSTRATIONS
What a great group of demonstrations!
The Self-Reliance Festival is a great place to highlight a skill! Some are scheduled in the garage and some go on all weekend.
Dealing with Emergency When There Is No Doctor
Chuck Peoples
Do you have what it really takes to deal with a medical or traumatic emergency? Equipment and training on what is necessary when no conventional medical care is available.
Traditional Blacksmithing
Dakota Lobato
Focus on traditional blacksmithing: hand tools, hooks, key fobs, and the application of such blacksmithing skills as taper, isolating material, creating shapes, and partnered striking.
Protection K9s
Joel Ryals
In many situations, just having a gun is not enough. Adding a Protection Dog to your defense makes you, your family, and your home safer. Joel will be demonstrating his dog’s capability at the end of this presentation.
Homeschooling: Teach Mental Freedom
Andy Higginbotham
Learn the simple tools to educate your children, no matter your education or experience.
Distilling for Fuel
Jason Rautbort
See how making a mash and extracting in a small still creates high-proof ethanol that can run small engines.
Weaving and Spinning
Eileen Wirsig with Stephanie Hostetter and members of the Murray Art Guild
See work on a large loom. Give weaving a try. See yarn spool made. Practical demonstration continues all weekend. Handmade creations available for purchase.
The Overlooked but Critical Prep: Fitness
Stephen Boone
Learn the most efficient strategies to become physically fit enough to survive in a SHTF scenario.
Building the Future with Hemp
Imanee Mamalution and River Richardson
Build natural, healthy homes with hemp hurd.
Build a Vortex Tea Brewer
Brian Norton
Join me in building a vertical uplift vortex tea brewer for making the best living innoculants and perfect foliar feeding of your valuable crops and trees.
Knitting Corner
Lani Johnson
First-timer? Bring a ball of yarn and needles or grab a Knit Kit ($) with the basic supplies for a simple project.
Already a knitter? Bring your work in progress!
Canning for Beginners
Dawn Gorham
Safe canning practices for people with no prior canning experience.
Mittleider Gardening the Texas Ready Way
Lucinda Bailey and Kurt Nauck
In this brief introduction to the Mittleider system of gardening, you will discover how to begin walking the pathway towards food self-sufficiency!
Let’s Shoot Well
Dakota Lobato
Take aim with an air gun.
Avoiding the Tax Man Legally
Matthew Sercely
Quick and dirty explanation about how anyone with a business can save money on their taxes if they just plan ahead.
