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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

Speaker Application

Demonstration Application

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, blade sharpening, aquaponics, homestead veterinary tools and techniques, marketing your side gig, 3D printing, cryptocurrency, defense dogs, and permaculture design.

PAST PANELS & PRESENTATIONS

Self Reliance Festival is currently accepting applications for our October event. Below is the list of presenters from June 2022. The updated list of topics, presenters and demonstrations will launch Mid-Summer, 2022.

Underground Networking 2.0

Nicole Sauce
When times get tough, go-getters activate their existing networks to spread word, find solutions, and restart life. Learn what’s going on and how to hop aboard the get-it done train.

Chicken Tractor on Steroids

Billy Bond
Learn to raise all of your eggs and meat while producing a cubic yard of the world’s best compost per week… for free!

Build Your Empire While Theirs Crumbles

Jack Spirko
Claim your rightful place in the world of money. Homesteading and self-employment are the same as working for salary: they’re real jobs.

Justice and Entrepreneurship in a Time of Incompetence

John Willis
No one knows how to make a serious topic both deep and engrossing the way John Willis does.

Proper Human Diet

Dr. Ken Berry
Eat right, and your health will improve. Keep it up and you’ll be fit and frisky.

The Importance of Community

Bear Independent
People and why you need them
Security
Division of labor
Intelligence gathering/correlation/distribution
Quality of life

Confessions of a Homesteader Wannabe

Josh and Thomas Carpenter

From city clickers to homesteaders. Our failures, what we’ve learned so far that people who weren’t raised on a homestead should know and what our plans are to move forward.

Financial Self-Reliance

Gabby Hundley
Learn digital marketing for your new business in the age of censorship. Discover easy and accessible ways to set up a website and marketing funnel so you can transition potential customers from social media to an ecosystem you have more control over.

When to Call the Vet? Annual Care and Prevention for your Animals

Dr. Nakeita Fowler, DVM
Annual overview of caring for your animals. When normal ain’t normal… and when to call the vet or seek emergency care. Demonstration for restraint and other backpocket skills.

Be Prepared, Not Panicked

Panel Discussion

Billy Bond, Nicole Sauce, Jack Spirko, John Willis

When you hear “Bad times are coming!” – smile. With your own common sense and advice from these four experts, you’ll be prepared to thrive in good times and bad.

Tactical Training for Homestead Defense

Joey Glover and Dana McClendon
Mindset, tactics, skill, and gear appropriate to the defense of one’s homestead

Medicine: Easy Until It Isn’t

Jake Drumm

After the accident, incident, or illness, what should you do during the next 72 hours, 10 days, or for the rest of the person’s life? This demonstration approaches medicine from an operational handling point of view.

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.

Exit and Build Financial Strategy

John Bush

Join John for a breakdown on strategies and tactics to create financial sovereignty and abundance in an age of technocracy and control. John will share how entrepreneurship, cryptocurrency, and the creation of counter-economies are critical components toward creating financial freedom in an un-free world.

WORKSHOP: Process a Pig

Billy Bond
This 4 to 6-hour workshop will teach you how to convert mature pigs to table food. You’ll learn dispatching, hanging, preparing for cutting-up, butchering, and wrapping for the freezer. On Saturday, the pork will reappear as BBQ.

PAST DEMONSTRATIONS

Medical Treatment Center

Chuck Peoples
Learn what’s really needed in a comprehensive medical kit and how to use the equipment. From trauma supplies to simple boo-boo supplies, do you know what you should have on hand? Get acquainted with critical medical gear and get hands-on training.

Hand Tool Rehab

Kerry Brown
Learn how to choose, use, rehab, and maintain your hand tools – pruners, axes, mauls, shovels, hoes, garden forks and so on. See the Vendors list: Kerry can repair and even return ailing tools to service (bring them along).

Sharpening on the Homestead

Patrick Roehrman
So many farm tools work easier when sharp. Master knife-maker Patrick Roehrmann explains what to do, then starts you on your sharpening career. In front of your very eyes, he will cut hair with a well-sharpened knife.

Water Is Wealth

Matt Hundley Watch and learn techniques for building water catchment tanks that are affordable and simple. Plus, by the end of this demonstration, you’ll understand the basics of finding and using water on any piece of land.

Knitting Corner

Lani Johnson
Pick up needles for the first time and take home a project.

Experienced? Bring your work in progress.

Demonstration: Navajo knitting. If you can, bring 50g or so of any DK, fine, or fingering weight yarn and US 7, 8, or 9 needles. Cast on 45 stitches, knit a row, and we’re ready to go.

3D Printing

Drac Thalassa

3D printing knowledge and skills

Marksmanship: 6 Steps to Firing the Shot

Kenneth Pirtle

Learn sight alignment, sight picture, focus, respiratory pause, squeeze the trigger, and follow through.

Live fire exercise with single-shot pellet rifles.

 

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.

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.

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.

Beekeeping

Ken Johnson

Demonstration by a skilled bee whisperer. He calls them “the girls” and lavishes attention on their hives and seasons. Learn basic techniques, necessary equipment, and the year according to a bee.

Chainsaw Safety

Chris Watkins

Cutting techniques, chainsaw safety, personal protective equipment, basic maintenance, and some very handy knots

Greenhouse Best Practices

Jeramy Bailey

How to build a greenhouse and produce your own plants for the garden or market. Tips, tricks, and learned experiences to having a successful greenhouse.

Grind Your Grains

Justin Metcalf

Experience a portable grist mill in action.

 

EMP Protection

Robert Spagnuolo, Andrew Bucchin

EMP Shield

 

Discussion of the Intentional Community

Rebecca Powers

Theory, reality, and stories of successful peer-helping communities and the Freedom Cell Network.

 

Apocalypse-Proof Homestead Design

Nick Ferguson

Design your homestead to provide grocery and feed store independence.

 

BECOME A VENDOR

People who come to Self-Reliance Festival make some cool products and offer spot-on applicable services for people like us.

Like to buy quality products?

Buy cool stuff from people who have struck out to build their own independent lifestyle, including handmade knives, spice mixes, soaps and lotions, permaculture assessment and training, self-defense, medical knowledge, delicious food, body care items, and much more!

Sell your wares!

Fill out the form to become a vendor here.

Pay for your spot, here.

VENDORS

Don’t miss shopping these quality products and services.

Visit Vendor Row!

APPLY TO GIVE A DEMO OR BE A VENDOR

Seeking Demos

The Self-Reliance Festival is a great place to highlight a skill! Have something you would like to show everyone? Apply here.

Vendors!

Have something to sell? Sign up here.

Booth: $350

12’x12′ space to erect your popup and booth trappings. All spaces will be marked, labeled, and are located outdoors, with plenty of foot traffic.
Booth rental includes:

  • 2 tickets to the festival
  • your logo on the Self-Reliance Festival website
  • You may hang your banner in the event tent.
  • Your swag or flyer in the swag bags.*
  • We will announce vendors from the podium.

Vendors provide their own tent, tables, and promotion materials, including logo, (4’X2′ width by height) banner, flyer, and swag*.

We will do our best to provide electricity, if requested well in advance of the event. You supply extension cord or surge protector.

Table: $100

Space to erect your 6′ table. All spaces will be marked, labeled, and most are located outdoors, with plenty of foot traffic. Table rental includes:

  • 1 ticket to the festival
  • your logo on the Self-Reliance Festival website
  • Your swag or flyer in the swag bags. *
  • We will announce vendors from the podium.

Vendors provide their own table, shade, and promotion materials, including logo, flyer, and swag. We will do our best to provide electricity, if requested well in advance of the event.

Flea Market

$10, cash only, Self-Reliance Festival ticket holders only

Welcome, festival entrepreneurs. In the Flea Market you can offer anything that does not need the space of a booth or table: a few jars of jam, second-hand prepper items, whatever you have. We will designate a “Flea Market” area. No table or equipment provided, no specific seller’s space assigned. No need to be present for the entire weekend. No advance notice necessary.

Must purchase one ticket to the festival for each seller in attendance and pay flea market attendant $10 in cash. Sorry, no electricity available.

Swag

This festival, we’ll give the first 200 participants a bag of goodies and information. Special Operations Equipment has provided the bags. Holler Roast Coffee has tucked in some beans. You can participate, too!

In order to have materials or items in the swag bags, send 500 copies to arrive by June 1 to:

Living Free in Tennessee
605 Long Branch Rd.
Lancaster, TN 38569

BECOME A SPONSOR

Without backing, Self-Reliance Festival would be a very different event. Become one of the people and businesses who support Self-Reliance weekend!

Please email Nicole Sauce, Nicole@LivingFreeinTennessee.com or Mama Sauce, Lani@Nysara.com for more information.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is your cancellation policy

Your ticket is nonrefundable.

Where is the festival?

Self-Reliance Festival
at Special Operations Equipment
4631 Highway 70 E
Camden, TN 38320

Lodging

FREE! Camp overnight at Special Operations Equipment. There’s a composting toilet and water.

Lodging closest to SOE property

New Johnsonville
5 minutes away

New Johnsonville Harbor Campground
130 Harbor Cir, New Johnsonville, TN 37134
(615) 319-4433
no website

Deerfield Inn (*closest hotel to SOE property*)
1331 Broadway Ave, New Johnsonville, TN 37134
(931) 535-3889
no website

Camden
under 5 miles / 10 minutes

Best Western Home Place Inn
731-584-2222
 Nicest hotel in the area

Country Hearth Inn and Suites
731-584-6666

Birdsong Road area
5 miles / 10 minutes

Cedar Ridge RV Park
3400 Birdsong Rd
Camden, TN 38320
Close to SOE

Birdsong Resort | Marina | Campground
255 Marina Road
Camden Kentucky Lake, Tennessee 38320-9699
(731) 584-7880
Close to SOE

20 minutes plus from SOE

Most affordable
34 miles / 40 minutes from SOE

Pike’s Peak Campground
$10-12
127 Perryville Rd, Parsons, TN 38363
(731) 249-0029

East
15 miles / 20 minutes from SOE

Waverly

Imperial Lodge
504 W Main St #1407, Waverly, TN 37185
(813) 304-5113
no website

South
15 miles / 20 minutes from SOE

Days Inn by Wyndham, Holladay
13845 Hwy 641 N, Holladay, TN 38341
(731) 483-2068

West
27 miles / 35 minutes west of SOE

The Heritage Inn
11790 Lexington St, Huntingdon, TN

North
28+ miles / 36+ minutes north of SOE
farthest, but largest city in the immediate area

Paris Landing RV Park
35 Point Pleasant Road, Buchanan, Tennessee
Larry Richardson: 731.363.3020
Faye Richardson: 731.363.3019
a KOA facility?

Paris, TN
Hotels

Super 8 by Wyndham Paris
1309 E Wood St, Paris, TN 38242

Paris Inn & Suites
1297 E Wood St, Paris, TN 38242

Quality Inn
1510 E Wood St, Paris, TN 38242

Knights Inn Paris
409 Tyson Ave, Paris, TN 38242

Other links

RV, camping, and camping cabin parks in the area

Hotels and motels near Camden, Tennessee

Vacation property rentals

Airbnb

VRBO

Evolve

Can I park my RV onsite?

No. Please see “Lodging” FAQ.

Food and supplies

Restaurants

Groceries, Food, Supplies

Can I bring my dog?

No.

What about bringing children?

Children who behave as adults are welcome. If children become unruly – or if adults act like unruly children – they will be ejected from the event.

Food and drink

Food and some beverages will be available for purchase. Water is in the orange and white Gatorade urns.

We will serve Holler Roast Coffee – for a freewill donation.

A Note:

Organizers seek food, drink, and snack vendors. What about you: do you make yummy things?

Please sign up to sell food at Self-Reliance Festival by completing the Vendor application. At least one of your tickets will be complimentary, and you’ll make a few bucks.

For questions, email Mama Sauce: lani@nysara.com.

Necessities and luxuries

This is Self-Reliance Festival: when you come, please be equipped to take care of yourself.

The event is held just outside a small rural town. Everything takes place in and around a sewing factory. We can’t entirely take over this production facility, so we fit in among the trappings of doing business and the memorable Willis Collection of Wonderful Items.

Bring your own chair, water bottles, clothing for Tennessee in June, and the all the things you need for comfort.

Some attendees have found cellphone service spotty; others have no problem at all. There is no internet onsite. We will try to set up a device charging station.

After two events, we can safely say that most people who come are friendly, helpful, and downright wonderful.

Bathrooms and kitchens

Attendee toilet facilities are outdoors in the form of composting outhouses and porta-johns. Please do not ask to and do not use the factory workers’ rest rooms.

The same is true of the kitchen. In order to feed 300 – 600 people, every attendee must stay out of the kitchen, the areas in front of it, and the restrooms – even those visitors accustomed to using these areas. If you want to cook or chill something, bring a stove and cooler.

Copyright © Nicole Sauce Industries 2022. All rights reserved. Developed by The Liberty Lab, Inc.
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