Guests:

• Sam Armel – Founder, Frederick County Homesteaders; local real estate agent
• Kristin Tesdall – Five Roots Farm (fiverootsfarm.com)
• Jaclyn Mommen – Laurel Grove Wine Farm & Patty's Place (laurelgrovewinefarm.com)

What We Cover:

• Why Frederick County Homesteaders is switching from a farm crawl to a farm hop — and what that means for families, those with mobility challenges, and anyone who couldn't make it farm-to-farm
• How the new centralized format opens the door to more farms, vendors, nonprofits, 4-H clubs, and demonstrations than ever before
• The bigger mission: doubling farm profit margins by connecting consumers directly with local farmers
• Why the data center threat in Frederick County has energized the community to take action in support of local agriculture

Event Details: Spring Farm Hop

• Date: April 18th
• Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Location: Frederick County Virginia Fairgrounds
• Admission: FREE (no parking fees, no entry fees)
• RSVP encouraged: frederickcountyhomesteaders.com → Events

What to Expect at the Event:

• ~60 vendors including local farms, homesteads, and micro hatcheries
• Demonstrations: Raw milk butter making (Old Cedar Farmstead), herbal infusions (Willow Moon Farm), fermentation/sauerkraut/kimchi, sourdough, canning
• Panel 1 – Healthy Living Locally (10:00 AM): Raw milk & herd shares, herbal remedies, chiropractic and movement
• Panel 2 – Homesteading 101 (afternoon): Getting started, land stewardship, Q&A with experienced homesteaders
• Live bluegrass music over the lunch hours
• Kids' activities: Scavenger hunt with prizes, young entrepreneur vendor section
• Plant sales & swaps, animal swaps, livestock sales
• CSA & herd share sign-ups
• Lunch service by Chef Van Haute from Inn at Vaucluse Springs

About the Farms:

Five Roots Farm A micro farm on just over 5 acres on the west side of Frederick County. Raises sheep (wool, dairy & meat), ducks, chickens, geese, and rabbits. Offers a self-service farm stand stocked with eggs and seasonal produce.

• Upcoming workshop: Sheep on the Homestead – April 25th
• fiveroottsfarm.com | @fiveroottsfarm on Facebook & Instagram

Laurel Grove Wine Farm & Patti's Place Home to one of the best regenerative wine collections in the US, now shipping nationwide. Offers workshops on composting, vermicomposting, home gardening, and holistic medicine. Hiking trails and a playground coming soon.

• Marketplace hours: Wed–Sun, 10 AM – 4 PM
• Café hours: Thu–Sun, 11 AM – 3 PM
• laurelgrovewinefarm.com | @LaurelGroveWineFarm | @PattyPlace_LGWF

Coming Up from Frederick County Homesteaders:

• Expanded Annual Shop Local Guide – launching June during Love Your Farmer Week (think: Southern Living for Frederick County — recipes, farm stories, interviews)
• Available at local farms, farm markets, and tourism departments throughout Frederick County

Connect & Learn More:

• Frederick County Homesteaders: frederickountyhomesteaders.com
• RSVP for the Farm Hop on the Events page (helps vendors prep food & product quantities!)
• Sponsorship opportunities available — includes banner placement on Route 11 fencing for a week prior to the event