The Homestead Seeds will have a booth set up at this greatly anticipated kickoff event. Paying warm homage to this very first National Heirloom Exposition, Mac will build one of his signature cucurbit displays for all visitors to enjoy. Also, Mac is booked to speak here at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in the “Hall of Flowers” at 12:15pm on Tuesday, Sept 13th. This three-day extravaganza in Santa Rosa CA runs from Sept 13 through 15, 2011 to celebrate and support school gardens and other food programs. We recognize this spectacular event to be the very first of many expositions that has already garnered the tagline of “the World’s Fair of the heirloom industry.” Make this event a “must go and see” on your 2011 calendar!

Over Labor Day weekend, some of The Homestead Bakery [THB] staff are heading south to DuQuoin IL. Join in on all the fun, excitement and star-studded music lineup of the Du Quoin State Fair running from Aug 26^th – Sept 5^th, 2011. We’ll be offering our THB made-from-scratch Amish baked goods, as well as FREE admission passes to come and spend a Fall day here at The Great Pumpkin Patch [TGPP]. We’ll only be set up on Saturday, Sept 3^rd and Sunday, Sept 4^th, so be sure to catch up with us both days in the Expo Hall.

Mac Condill will be the Master of Ceremonies at Illinois State University’s horticulture club dinner Friday evening, Sept 9, 2011. With Mac at the helm, this celebration of 100 years of agriculture starts at 4:00pm with tours of the Horticulture Center gardens, while also enjoying appetizers and a cash bar. At 5:30pm, Mac will begin his mc’ing gig. He’ll be highlighting his 3+ decades of life at The Great Pumpkin Patch with anecdotes that include his Martha Stewart TV airings and his 2010 White House visit. The alumni committee suggests that you dress comfortably for a festive summer evening.

And we suggest that you find more information at this ISU alumni events link: https://www.illinoisstatealumni.org/ccon/events_activities.do?event_id=A1203&frompage=events

The Homestead Bakery will be setting up a tent at this year’s Illinois State Fair. We’ll be there with our fresh, made-from-scratch Amish baked goods on this coming Saturday and Sunday – August 13 & 14, 2011.

Be sure to look us up to get your delicious baked goodies, along with Free Passes to The Great Pumpkin Patch, until they all run out. See you there!

Saturday, August 6, 2011, Mac Condill is speaking at a Master Gardeners’ seminar in Noblesville IN. This seminar’s theme is “Gardens -  More than just a pretty flower.” Mac will explain how pumpkin, squash and gourd plants [cucurbits] can be aesthetically paired up with the flowers in your garden. High in essential nutrients, he’ll illustrate their ease in complementing your simple to your extravagant menus. He’ll also demonstrate their conventional uses, while highlighting their creative crafting values. Beautiful in the garden, healthy and delicious on the table, captivating in any artist’s hands . . . this is the nature of the cucurbit family!

The doors of Indiana’s Hamilton County Fairgrounds open to the public at 8:00am on this particular Saturday (8/6/11). Catch Mac speaking at 11:30am, or find him throughout the day at The Homestead Seeds vending booth. Mark your calendar for this “don’t miss” event!