February 22-25, 2024

Seminar Stage Headliners

The following information is from the 2023 Show.  2024 details coming winter 2023.

Cara Middleton, Freshwater Vacation Rentals

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.

See Schedule
The Do’s and Don’ts of Managing Your Short-Term Rental in 2023
February 23, 2023
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Cottage Living Stage
Come explore our perspective with the best practices we have discovered over the past 18 years with the Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to managing your short-term rental.  It’s not just about vacations any longer.  From work-cations, to visiting family, people in the U.S. increasingly are choosing short-term rentals.  While there are many reasons to jump into the short-term rental marketplace, there are drawbacks too.  Do you know what guests expect in 2023? Where is it best to advertise? Should you install security cameras?  These are just a few of the many topics we will be covering as we dive deep into the 2023 world of short-term rentals.
Airbnb – Friend or Foe?
February 24, 2023
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Cottage Living Stage
What began in 2008 as a simple home-sharing site, has merged into Airbnb becoming both a noun and a verb in U.S. travel trends.  From “I’m Airbnb-ing my house!” to “I’m staying at my Airbnb.”  Hosts and Guests alike readily use this huge space-sharing platform.  Still, it’s not always as fun and easy as it may appear on the surface. Come explore the celebrations and challenges from both the host and the guest perspective.  Join us on this wild adventure as we explore the tools Airbnb provides to connect hosts and guests. Bring your experiences and questions to share. (Disclaimer: I am not an Airbnb representative. My Freshwater Vacation Rentals Team and I are simply Airbnb Superhosts who dig deep into the Airbnb world daily.)
The Do’s and Don’ts of Managing Your Short-Term Rental in 2023
February 25, 2023
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Cottage Living Stage
Come explore our perspective with the best practices we have discovered over the past 18 years with the Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to managing your short-term rental.  It’s not just about vacations any longer.  From work-cations, to visiting family, people in the U.S. increasingly are choosing short-term rentals.  While there are many reasons to jump into the short-term rental marketplace, there are drawbacks too.  Do you know what guests expect in 2023? Where is it best to advertise? Should you install security cameras?  These are just a few of the many topics we will be covering as we dive deep into the 2023 world of short-term rentals.
The Upper Peninsula- Is There Really Anything to Do?
February 26, 2023
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Cottage Living Stage
Yes!  While here there are more trees than people, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is full of adventure and ideal for your slow travel journey.  Here, your cell signal is unpredictable,  Google Maps frequently inaccurate and the weather swings from the vines.  Still, for the most curious, self-directed nature lovers, it can feel like a hidden paradise. From waterfalls to out-house races, a National Park to moose, you can find your niche; that is, if you can leave the longing for big shopping malls or amusement parks behind.
Chrissy Detary and Matt Smith, IKEA

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!

See Schedule
Big Ideas in a Small Space Need Smart Thinking
February 23, 2023
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Cottage Living Stage
Enjoying life at the cottage with friends and family; living more flexibly and spontaneously; moving from indoors to outdoors with ease; creating space to play and relax; or enjoying the most of your small space - IKEA can help.
Big Ideas in a Small Space Need Smart Thinking
February 24, 2023
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Cottage Living Stage
Enjoying life at the cottage with friends and family; living more flexibly and spontaneously; moving from indoors to outdoors with ease; creating space to play and relax; or enjoying the most of your small space - IKEA can help.
Big Ideas in a Small Space Need Smart Thinking
February 25, 2023
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Cottage Living Stage
Enjoying life at the cottage with friends and family; living more flexibly and spontaneously; moving from indoors to outdoors with ease; creating space to play and relax; or enjoying the most of your small space - IKEA can help.
Big Ideas in a Small Space Need Smart Thinking
February 26, 2023
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Cottage Living Stage
Enjoying life at the cottage with friends and family; living more flexibly and spontaneously; moving from indoors to outdoors with ease; creating space to play and relax; or enjoying the most of your small space - IKEA can help.
Farm Country Cheese House

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

See Schedule
Building Your Cottage Charcuterie Board
February 23, 2023
5:00 pm - 5:45 pm
Cottage Living Stage
Building Your Cottage Charcuterie Board
February 24, 2023
4:00 pm - 4:45 pm
Cottage Living Stage
Building Your Cottage Charcuterie Board
February 25, 2023
5:00 pm - 5:45 pm
Cottage Living Stage
Angie Jackson, The Traveling Elixir Fixer

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.

See Schedule
Mason Jar Mocktails and Cottage Elixirs
February 24, 2023
5:00 pm - 5:45 pm
Cottage Living Stage
Join Angie Jackson, a.k.a. The Traveling Elixir Fixer for a mocktail demonstration utilizing the Mason Jar and easily found and foraged ingredients that may be growing around the cottage.  Angie will muddle, mash, shake, stir, and roll with the Swiss Army Knife of utility glassware and storage and will demonstrate how to build zero-proof drinks directly in the jars according to seasonal foraged flavors that may be found in Michigan.
Mason Jar Mocktails and Cottage Elixirs
February 25, 2023
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Cottage Living Stage
Join Angie Jackson, a.k.a. The Traveling Elixir Fixer for a mocktail demonstration utilizing the Mason Jar and easily found and foraged ingredients that may be growing around the cottage.  Angie will muddle, mash, shake, stir, and roll with the Swiss Army Knife of utility glassware and storage and will demonstrate how to build zero-proof drinks directly in the jars according to seasonal foraged flavors that may be found in Michigan.
Mason Jar Mocktails and Cottage Elixirs
February 25, 2023
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Cottage Living Stage
Join Angie Jackson, a.k.a. The Traveling Elixir Fixer for a mocktail demonstration utilizing the Mason Jar and easily found and foraged ingredients that may be growing around the cottage.  Angie will muddle, mash, shake, stir, and roll with the Swiss Army Knife of utility glassware and storage and will demonstrate how to build zero-proof drinks directly in the jars according to seasonal foraged flavors that may be found in Michigan.