February 22-25, 2024
Seminar Stage Headliners
Cara Middleton, Freshwater Vacation Rentals
Cara Middleton, owner of Freshwater Vacation Rentals, will speak to both guests and owners about the ever-changing vacation rental industry. For owners, Cara will reveal how to maximize your second home investment. She will explain how to do it yourself, when to ask for help, short-term rental strategies and common pitfalls of the industry. With eighteen years of experience, you will be able to apply her insights to your 2nd home. In addition, Cara will give guests suggestions on how to pick your ideal vacation rental, what to look for, and how to avoid extra fees. With tips from her own personal practices, realistic examples, and the occasional funny story, you will be sure to enjoy exploring the short-term rental industry.
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Chrissy Detary and Matt Smith, IKEA
Chrissy Detary, Loyalty & Customer Community Manager, and Matt Smith, Selling Manager are excited to show you how you can enjoy life at home with friends and family; live more flexibly and spontaneously; move from indoors to outdoors with ease; create space to play and relax; or enjoying the most of your small space with IKEA!
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
11:00 am - 11:45 am
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Farm Country Cheese House
For over 35 years, Farm Country Cheese House has created fresh, antibiotic-free, artisanal cheeses. Our culture is supportive and kind, and we work together with the local Michigan farmers to bring the highest-quality and freshest cheese to you! We use milk made by cows that are naturally raised and antibiotic free, with absolutely no artificial hormones introduced in their diet. Farm Country Cheese House is proud to say we support Michigan Family Dairy Farms, and the dedicated employees that work at the cheese house. People have come to know us for our large variety of specialty cheeses such as “Our trademark-Michigan Jack”, Dill, Hot Pepper, Horseradish, as well as our unique Cheese Curds.
In 2018 Andrew and Nicki Arens purchased Farm Country Cheese House. As a dairy nutritionist and dairy farmer, Andrew wanted to combine his years of industry knowledge with a lifelong passion for agriculture and actualized the dream of purchasing Farm Country Cheese House. We pride ourselves on the quality, craftsmanship, and a deep understanding that cheese-making truly is an art. This homemade tradition means that when we are making our cheese, they prepare and blend all the 100% Natural Ingredients, with the freshest milk from our dairy farm, located in Portland Michigan and other local Michigan farms. Skill and art are applied to each cheese during the traditional handcrafting process. Our process is remarkably domestic, and sadly, quite uncommon in today’s manufacturing world. Each batch is made with no additives, hormones, or preservatives. As a result, the quality of our product is second to none. We are passionate about keeping authentic cheddar-making alive combining time-honored techniques with modern innovation. Farm Country Cheese House is an example of how farming and food manufacturing can be integrated to create products with artistry and quality within a sustainable agricultural framework!
Enjoy our Michigan Made Artisan Cheese,
Andrew and Nicki Arens
Angie Jackson, The Traveling Elixir Fixer
Since 2006, Angie has been presenting energetic, vibrant, and upbeat programs, seminars, workshops, and classes surrounding Michigan’s growing culture of far-to-table culinary experiences, local agriculture, grain distillation, wildcrafted elixirs, as well as herbalism and foraging.
Angie is a passionate professional speaker with 25+ years of experience in the food and beverage industry. She is a freelance culinary mixologist, brand consultant, and educator. She has designed and executed award-winning beverage programs throughout the Midwest’s top bars and restaurants, numerous craft distilleries, national distributors, as well as global brands.
Angie’s great-grandfather, Waldo, founded Michigan Radio and loved the cottage life. He purchase their family cottage in 1922 on Omena Point in Omena, Michigan and the cottage is still in the family. Thanks to Waldo, Angie’s family still enjoys summers at The Abbey Cottage with all generations to this day.