June 13, 2024 • 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Grassroots Farm

Lucknow, Ontario

Presented by

In Partnership with

LaunchIt Business Exploration Centre

township of huron-kinloss

Homegrown is a first-of-its-kind, one-day gathering for female-identifying rural business owners in midwestern Ontario.

Part pep rally, part summer camp, part business conference, Homegrown provides a forum to hear the stories of other female rural business owners, fill your cup with support and encouragement, build personal and business connections, and celebrate the creativity and resiliency of rural life.

Homegrown is for you if:

you want to connect IRL with other rural business owners (and not at the grocery store, arena or school pickup).
you’re ready to grow your business.
you’re so over Googling the answer to your business questions.
you feel lonely, insignificant or discouraged.
you want to celebrate rural living.

See the lineup

plant seeds of growth

❁

let your dreams take root

❁

cultivate success on your terms

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plant seeds of growth ❁ let your dreams take root ❁ cultivate success on your terms ❁

why it matters

If you’re a female running a business in a small town in midwestern Ontario (or the wide open spaces in between), Homegrown is for you. Homegrown was created for any female and non-binary rural business owner who has ever felt excluded, insignificant or discouraged.

As rural business owners, we know things can bloom slower and grow differently here. The rural experience is refreshingly relaxed and the days of the sleepy small town where nothing really happens are fading in the rearview mirror. Yet it’s still all-to-easy to feel lost in the weeds: insignificant, isolated and discouraged.

But just because you live and operate your business in a small town, doesn’t mean there’s anything small about it. Women all across our region are running innovative, creative and inspiring businesses, and choosing to bloom right where we’re planted.

Homegrown is here to help you and your business grow in an environment blooming with belonging, relevance and empowerment.

Join us on June 13 to find your place in the garden, and bloom in good company.

JOIN WAITLIST

part conference,

part pep rally,

part summer camp

What can you expect at Homegrown? First off, we’ve called it a gathering because pegging it as a conference, summit or retreat didn’t really capture everything we’re packing into the day or the laid-back and informal vibe we’re creating.

This is lunch, storytelling, and growth alongside 70 new friends in a beautiful rural setting - not capital-B BUSINESS with a corporate crew.

venue and location

We’re thrilled to host the first Homegrown Gathering at Grassroots Farm, near Lucknow, home of Grassroots Woodfired Pizza.

Their beautiful farm, rural setting and homegrown food provide the perfect atmosphere for Homegrown.

grassroots farm, 760 Bruce Rd 86, Lucknow, ON (Directions)

schedule

Homegrown Gathering takes place on Thursday, June 13, from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

9:00 am • Doors Open! Grab your coffee and a snack from Cait’s Café (Goderich), smile (or not!) for your complimentary headshot, make a new friend, and find a seat.

9:30 am • Welcome Announcements

9:45 am • Morning Meditation & Intention Setting (led by Heather Reeves, Mind/Body Mentor

10:00 am • Panel #1 - Planting Seeds

10:50 am • Journal / Reflection Time

11:00 am • Elective #1 – Community Conversations / Photo Shoots Shoots / Ask-Me-Anything Expert Sessions

11:50 am • Journal / Reflection Time

12:00 pm • Lunch & Connect!

12:30 pm • Afternoon Announcements

12:45 pm • Panel # 2 - Keep It Growing

1:30 pm • Journal / Reflection Time

1:45 pm • Elective #2 – Community Conversations / Photo Shoots Shoots / Ask-Me-Anything Expert Sessions

2:30 pm • Journal / Reflection Time

2:45 pm • Encore Q+A Panel

3:00 pm • Closing Remarks

3:30 pm • End of Programming

tickets and registration

early bird tickets

March 13 - 31

Includes full event program, light breakfast and buffet lunch, complimentary headshot, and swag.

$99 + HST

TICKETS SOLD OUT! JOIN THE WAITLIST!

regular tickets

April 1 - may 24

Includes full event program, light breakfast and buffet lunch, complimentary headshot, and swag.

$125 + HST

JOIN WAITLIST

ticket upgrades and add-ons

ask-me-anything expert consulting sessions

(included with your ticket)

Sure, you can try to YouTube your way to success, but sooner or later you need to call in an expert (or 4!). Homegrown brings the experts to you with local professionals in accounting, insurance, social media, branding, human resources and more ready to answer the questions taking up space in your brain. Sign up for the 10-minute consulting sessions that meet your needs during ticket checkout.
Plus! Representatives from Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth, and Guelph-Wellington county business centres will be on hand with information about business learning, mentorship and grant opportunities.

brand photo shoots

(Optional ticket upgrade: $50 + HST)

Make the most of the gorgeous rural setting at Grassroots Farm and book a 10-minute on-site mini brand photo shoot to create content for your business.
Spend 10 minutes with local photographers Tosha Donkersgoed (Peach Media) or Ashley Noble (Ashley Noble Photography) to create updated photos for your website and socials.
Select your photoshoot time slot during online checkout.

HOMEGROWN T-SHIRTS

(Optional ticket upgrade: $25 + HST)

If you didn’t get the t-shirt, did it even happen?
Pre-order a Homegrown signature t-shirt (made just for business owners) and we’ll have it ready for you at registration check-in. Available in sizes XS - XXL.

panelists

morning panel

Planting Seeds

(Businesses operating for 1-5 years)

Angela Devitt

Stone Bridge Flour, Ripley

Shelby Donegan & Brianne Donegan

Victorian Inn & Spa, Listowel

Cierra Garrow

Cambrian Counselling and Wellness, Meaford

Natalie Overholt

The Eco Den, Mount Forest

Sydney Pollack

Blake Street Bakery, Goderich

afternoon panel

Keep It Growing

(Businesses operating for 5+ years)

Caitlin Hall

Reroot Organic Farm, Harriston

Amanda Herrfort

Anna Mae’s Bakery & Restaurant, Millbank

Crystal Howe

Ice River Springs, Shelburne

Tracy Irwin

Everlastings Flowers and Gifts, Lucknow

Stephanie Vandenbussche

Exeter Massage and Integrative Care, Exeter

experts

You know that running list of random business questions you have? Homegrown wants to help you get answers, so you can make progress and grow. And since most of us would prefer to work and take advice from other women, we’ve hand-picked local professional women and reps from regional business support agencies. They’ll be on site and ready to answer your questions and guide you with your ideas.

local professionals

Book individual 10-minute sessions with any of these experts during ticket checkout

Heather Schaus CPA, CGA

BDO, Mount Forest

Ask Heather about business accounting

Kaity Markle MBA, CHRP

Markle Consulting, Guelph

Ask Kaity about bookkeeping, human resources, strategic planning and compliance

Taylor Keunen

TK Creative Studio, Palmerston

Ask Taylor about branding, social media, and content creation

regional business support agencies

Chat with these reps about accessing training, mentorship and funding through your local small business centre

Courtney Miller

Manager, Grey County Business Enterprise Centre

Trish Denomme

Business Coach, Huron Business Centre

Manpreet Kaur Kangha

Economic Development Officer, Business to Bruce

Kristel Manes

Executive Director, Guelph-Wellington Business Enterprise Centre

Holly Mortimer

Business Advisor, Stratford Perth Centre for Business

Jenn Wright, CFP

RBC Royal Bank, Hanover

Ask Jenn about financial planning for your business

Heather Watterworth

Creative Worth Branding & Design, Harriston

Ask Heather about branding, website design and email marketing

Breanne Chapman

McDonagh Insurance, Lucknow

Ask Breanne about business insurance

Robin Lippold