Meet the speakers.                                                                       

Rick Austin- The Survivalist Gardener- Author- AKA: The Godfather of Prepping

Classes: Secret Garden of Survival; Secret Greenhouse of Survival; Secret Livestock of Survival; Get Off Grid- Starting Now; Rifle Setup for Predators – How Not to Miss the Target

Rick Austin is known as the Survivalist Gardener, and is a preparedness, homesteading and off grid living expert. He is the author of Secret Garden of Survival-How to Grow a Camouflaged Food Forest which is now the #1 Best Selling book in Garden Design.

 Rick is also the author of the Secret Greenhouse of Survival, How to Build the Ultimate Homestead and Prepper Greenhouse;  Secret Livestock of Survival – How to Raise the Very Best Choices for Retreat and Homestead Livestock; and Get Off Grid- Starting Now.

 Rick has been featured on National Geographic Channel’s Doomsday Castle, Doomsday Preppers, Germany’s Galileo TV, PBS, Amazon Prime Video’s This Beast That Is The Global Economy, the documentary film Beyond Off Grid, as well as in Newsweek, American Survival Guide, Prepper & Shooter Magazine and in Mother Earth News (three times).

 You can also hear Rick on his radio show Secrets of a Survivalist where each week he talks with the world’s best survival experts that share their own secrets of survival.

www.SecretGardenOfSurvival.com

Survivor Jane – Founder- SurvivorJane.com , #preppertalk. 

Class: Homesteading Reality- Making the Most Out of Your Homestead

Jane is a former city-girl turned prepper. She is the creator and editor of the #1 disaster survival and preparedness website for women:  www.SurvivorJane.com.  

Her mission, as a public speaker, writer and social media persona is to help educate others on how to prepare by sharing her personal experiences and research in easy to understand language on different topics of disaster survival and preparedness.

As an additional outreach, Jane created the internationally used hashtag #PrepperTalk which has resulted in the Largest Prepper Community on Twitter bringing preparedness-minded people from all over the world together to share their ideas, suggestions and information on preparedness with one another.

She is the author of the books: What Could Possibly Go Wrong??? How to Go From Completely Clueless to Totally Prepared;  Where There is No Cosmetic Counter and the 1st revision: Survivor Jane’s Guide to: Emergency/Survival Hygiene: A Prepper’s Cookbook for Making Personal Survival Hygiene Products. Since infection and germs are the #1 cause of death in a disaster situation, in her opinion, hygiene is one of the most overlooked areas in preparedness.

Jane has also appeared on the hit television series, National Geographic Channel’s Doomsday Preppers; receiving one of the highest scores given in the series history and, was featured in the Special Newsweek Edition: Off-Grid along side such notables as “Survivorman” Les Stroud.

As a writer Jane has contributed to National Geographic Channel’s BlogTV, Prepper and Shooter Magazine, as well as Prepare Magazine and many other periodicals.

When she is not writing, you will find Jane on her homestead-practicing what she preaches –  because for Survivor Jane, “Preparedness is a life-style … not a hobby”.

www.SurvivorJane.com

Richard Cleveland- Founder and Director of Earth School 

Classes: Primitive Wilderness Survival Skills; Wild Edible Survival

Richard Cleveland is the founder and director of Earth School, based near Asheville, NC. He is a former Lead Instructor at Tom Brown’s world famous Wilderness Survival School in New Jersey. Richard has also trained and studied extensively with Charles Worsham, a gifted Tracker and teacher of life. Other teachers he has studied with include, nationally renowned Cherokee herbalist David Winston, flintknapping experts Dr. Errett Callahan and Jack Cresson, as well as bowmakers Jim Hamm and Scott Silsby.

Richard teaches programs throughout the United States and has also led programs in Australia. He has taught survival and self-reliance skills to Navy Seals and civilians alike. His Survival School has been featured on cable TV shows, local news channels and various publications. During the past 29 years Richard has taught nature awareness and survival skills to thousands of people of all ages. He is an avid outdoorsman, fishing guide, writer, public speaker and a self-trained Naturalist.  

www.LoveTheEarth.com 

James Walton- Owner of Prepper Broadcasting Network, Owner of Disaster Coffee,Author –

Class: How to Turn Your Neighbors into Preppers

James Walton is the owner/ Intrepid Commander of the Prepper Broadcasting Network. He has been prepping, podcasting, speaking and writing for 10 years. The Prepper Broadcasting Network is a 7 day a week podcast network with 15 hosts from all over the nation.

He is also the owner of Disaster Coffee and the author of the kid’s preparedness series, The World of Ready. He is a lifelong fisherman, trained chef, father of 2 and a husband. 

Rick Martin – 22-year Army Vet, Rifle Instructor; 

Class: Project Appleseed – Learn Rifle Marksmanship- for All Skill Levels

Rick Martin is a 22-year Army veteran. During his career, he deployed on 2 combat tours and several peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. As a rifle instructor and mentor with Project Appleseed, he has instructed at over 60 events in the southeast United States since 2019.

Michael McKinley

Class: Personal Drones for Post Disaster

Hi all you preparedness advocates. This is Michael coming at ya with all I know about drones. I’ve been flying (and crashing..lol) drones for a few years now. I’ve flown a bunch of different types and sizes of drones. I love to experiment with the many ways to customize them.

I’ve always wondered what the possibilities are with flying drones. I’m currently working on customizing them to suit my current and future needs. I look forward to getting your opinions on where we’re at and where we’re going with all things drones.

Dr. Amanda P. Cartwright- Naturopathic Physician;

Classes: How to Use Herbs Medicinally; Herbal Animal Care

After graduating East Tennessee State University, I decided to enter a master and doctorate program of study in Public Health, followed by Natural Medicine.  Once graduating as a naturopathic physician, I decided to hone my interests in iridology, muscle response testing, and herbalism.  Due to the chaotic shambles this county has become, my husband and I decided to become self-sufficient homesteaders.  We preserve food though canning and fermentation, compost, grow a garden, seed save, harvest animals, milk goats, make soap and cheese, collect eggs, grow animal feed, make clothing and crochet/knit blankets, and obtain medicine from simple “weeds” in the backyard.  I am also the author of ‘125 Survival Herbs for Beginners’ and ‘Natural Health in the New Covid World’.  Join me as we learn more about herbs!  

Trip Critz –  Sun Ovens International;

Class: Solar Cooking

Trip brings over 29 years of entrepreneurial leadership, sales development, and corporate growth experience to companies positioned to launch their business model in complex market environments. With strategic focus and seasoned experience in corporate growth, Trip brings fresh perspectives and synergy in working with tier-1 teams across a broad spectrum, including sales and distribution, on-hold marketing and advertising, restaurants, franchise development, non-profit and NGOs, community development, and renewable energy. Trip served as the Co-Founder, Director, and Chief Financial Officer of Poverty Dignified, Inc. from September 27, 2013, through May 27, 2020. Trip currently holds the position as the Director of Global Operations for Sun Ovens International, Inc. Trip brings a unique approach to entrepreneurial leadership and is able to cultivate and inspire unity, value, and structure through the entire growth process. His true passion is to empower companies to recognize and embrace the right opportunities with the sole purpose of tapping their full potential.

Jay Herselschwerdt (the BeeManJay) – US Hall of Fame Mixed Martial Arts Competitor, Actor, Bee Keeper;

Class: Cane Self Defense

Jay Heselschwerdt is an America film, television and theatre actor and narrator. Originally from Mid-Michigan and now resides in East Tennessee. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, an Associate’s Degree in Marketing, and an Associate’s Degree in Massage Therapy. He has competed in mixed martial arts completions and cage fights. Inducted into the United States Hall of Fame in 2008.

Jay started his career in beekeeping about 25 years ago when a friend talked him into keeping bees for his farm. Jay was the founder of the Honey Convention, worked as a honey bee inspector for the state of Tennessee Agriculture, on the board of Midwest Master beekeepers, past president of this local Bee club, started a local 4-H beekeeping club. He has spoke on podcasts and at bee conferences, conventions, associations, bee clubs all over the United States and several countries around the world via zoom.

You can find out more about Jay or follow him on many different social media platforms with the links at https://www.beacons.ai/thebeemanjay.com

Cameron Evans-Army Special Forces Contractor;

Class: Night Vision and Thermal Optics

Cameron is a Weapons Platoon Marine Corps veteran. After several deployments and upon completing his enlistment, he left the Marine Corps as a Corporal. He became an independent contractor with the Army and works closely with the Army’s Special Forces.

When not out in the field, Cameron assists Wolf-Fire Firearms Safety and Instruction with teaching  advanced tactical classes.

Brian Duff – Mind4Survival Podcast; Spec Ops Team Leader with Army Rangers;

Class: Mindset: The Most Important Fundamental of Preparedness; The Survival Pyramid

Brian Duff’s career in preparedness and security began at 16 as a Los Angeles City lifeguard, progressing to roles as a firefighter, paramedic, and Special Operations team leader with the 3d Ranger Battalion. His experience spans leading medical clinics in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, providing high-threat diplomatic protection in Iraq and Pakistan, advising a rebel army in Africa, and managing security at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. Later, he directed an international security program and a premiere tactical medicine training company. An expert in security, crisis management, and preparedness, Brian also hosts the Mind4Survival podcast. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Security Management and an MBA in Information Technology Management. 

Chuck Jaeger – U.S. Navy Electronic Technician, Homesteader, Prepping Badass YouTube Channel;

Class: Preparing for an EMP and Grid Down Scenario

Chuck Jaeger, lives on a small homestead in North Carolina with his family. He is a licensed Electrician and was a former U.S. Navy Electronic Technician. After serving in Kosovo and the Mediterranean, Chuck’s journey into preparedness began with a stark realization of the fragility of the life we often take for granted. Motivated by the belief that community preparedness enhances individual resilience, he founded The Prepping Badass YouTube Channel and created The Survival and Basic Badass Podcast, part of the WaypointTV Podcast network with over 400 episodes.

Chuck’s unique combination of military experience and electrical expertise provide a keen understanding of both worlds. His unique perspective provides a fresh take on the strategic implications of an EMP and how it will affect the individual. Chuck is dedicated to sharing his insights, and ensuring the whole community is better prepared.

Nick Dunham; Wilderness Survival Instructor, Knife Maker, Owner- Strange Raven Outdoors

Class: Emergency Shelter

Nick Dunham is a full time knife maker and wilderness survival instructor from Indiana. He is an avid hunter, and outdoorsman who believes in living as self-reliant as possible. He began his journey to self reliance 10 years ago after a workplace accident left him very ill, and mentally scarred with PTSD. It was this event which led him to find peace in the outdoors when he could no longer find it anywhere else. With his new passion for nature came the desire to learn how to survive, provide and thrive in a wilderness setting. He began seeking as much information on the subject as possible and then started his journey training with the Pathfinder School, where he successfully completed their entire system of training from Basic through Advanced. After his training with the Pathfinder School, he sought out additional training with Campcraft Outdoors. He trained there for a number of years with survival expert and author Dr. Jason Hunt, eventually earning an Instructor Certification.

Jason Barr – Owner Ridgerunner Blades;

Class: Knives – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

My wife, Heather, and I live in the foothills of NC, where we own Ridgerunner Blades and a marketing firm called Revival Creatives. Outside of that, you will find us in the field with our sheep, in the garden, or trying to get the energy out of our 4 cattle dogs. Be sure to stop by and say hey to Scout! Our Blue Heeler Mascot!

James Davis; Butcher

Class: Butchering

James spent his years growing up carving 110 acres of undeveloped land into a farm and homestead, taking full advantage of the local library and learning through trial and error.

Along the way he discovered the thrill of hunting and trapping, along with the satisfaction of raising his own livestock, all tucked away in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and surrounded by deer, tics, and wild rose bushes.

Beginning with deer and his own chickens and hogs, James grew proficient and was regularly called upon to process livestock and wild game by friends and neighbors.

As an adult, James had the unique experience of butchering goats while deployed in Afghanistan, rabbits in Siberia, boar in Beijing, and approximately 600 hogs, 600 cattle, and nearly 2000 deer, during the course of his professional butchering career.

Chin Gibson- Homesteading Communications geek;

Class: Meshtastic Off Grid Comms

Chin has a Polycom Certified Videoconferencing Engineer (PCVE) certificate, has had his Ham license over a decade, a GMRS license for over 02 years, and has been experimenting with Meshtastic for a year now. He is helping stand up a CERT team in the rural county he lives in.

Chin also finds time to Cohost the Changing Earth weekly podcast with author Sara Hathaway.

Dave Jones- The NBC Guy;

Class: Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense

Dave Jones started his military career in the U.S. Army in 1975, where he became a Nuclear Biological & Chemical (NBC) warfare operations specialist. After being promoted to Sergeant First Class and going to office school, Dave graduated number one in his NBC officer basic course.

For the next 14 years, Dave served in a variety of roles, including commanding a smoke

generator company, brigade operations officer. Dave then retired from active duty with the rank of

Major in April 2000. After 911 happened, Dave was recalled to active duty. He became the chief of the Vulnerability Assessment Team chief for US Central Command.

Emergency Management was Dave’s career in civilian life after that. Dave worked at NASA headquarters, US Air Force Global Strike Command (the nuclear weapons command for the US Air Force), and for the Department of Homeland Security, at a place called Mount Weather. Dave retired from that position as a GS 14 in Feb 2019. (The highest pay grade is GS 15.)

Forest Garvin- CEO Sun Ovens International, Founder- PrepperNet

Classes: Survival Groups; Every Prepper Needs a Homebased Business

Forrest Garvin is the “Prepper’s Prepper” and has served the survival industry for over 20 years as an instructor, consultant, CEO of Sun Ovens International, and the founder of the nationwide organization PrepperNet. Having served as a US Air Force NCO with the 317 MAC and JSOC SOLL II out of Pope Air Force Base, Forrest leveraged his military experience into a technology and security position for the Strategic Technology Group for NationsBank and Bank of America. He then created several technology startups and an incubator space that led to many successes.

Forrest has studied, trained, practiced, and often instructs various preparedness skills. He is an NRA instructor, HAM General license holder and operator, and Krav Maga apprentice instructor. He is the owner of Greyman Protection LLC and the owner/lead instructor of Carolina Survival & Preparedness Academy in Charlotte, NC. He is widely known as the host of the “Prepping Academy” podcast, where he interviewed some of the most well-known contributors to modern prepping.

Forrest also shares with the community through his three books: “The Preparedness Roadmap,” “The Case for Christian Preparedness: Faith and Prepping for Survival (Christian Prepper Series Book 1),” and “Stand Firm to the End (Christian Prepper Series Book 2).”

Finally, Forrest founded the Carolina Preppers Network and worked to grow it into the national group PrepperNet. PrepperNet is dedicated to providing a platform for preppers to connect and form mutual assistance groups under skilled leaders PrepperNet has provided the training and tools needed for success. PrepperNet currently has 100,000 members across the world and is growing.

Forrest lives in North Carolina, dedicating his life to his family, Christian fellowship, and preparing others for the end of the world.

Dr. Deb Davis – Major (RET) US Marine Corps

Class: Food Storage Feasting- Making a Feast Out of Food Storage

I am Deb Davis, though some call me Mama Deb, and some call me Dr. Deb, and some call me Major Mom.  These titles come from my experiences hosting a dozen exchange students and teaching survival skills to young people, teaching English at Shawnee State University (Ed.D.), and retiring as a Major from the Marine Corps. 

There have been times in my life when minimalist living was a requirement. Also, I am very aware there may be times in the future. I have learned must about making and using my stored food. I do canning, dehydrating, smoking, and freeze drying. One of the many lessons is that making things palatable goes a long way toward comfort in times of strife. I look forward to sharing some of my lessons with you!

Tighe Kuykendall, NK4I;

Class: Ham Radio -Practical Radio Preps- Communications – Stuff You Need to Know; Ham Radio License  Exam

Tighe Kuykendall is a lifelong learner and adventurer.  Growing up in Western NC he enjoyed camping and the outdoors.  He served in the US Army from 1990-97 where he learned basic radio skills and had the opportunity to live in foreign countries.  Tighe was first licensed as an Amateur Radio operator in 2001 and received his Amateur Extra class license in 2007 while living near Charleston SC where he was active with local radio groups.  He has been involved in many radio adventures from ARRL Field Day, being a special event station for the 13 Colonies Special Event, to portable operations from campgrounds or the top of mountains.  Today, Tighe lives with his wife and son on their homestead in East Tennessee where he enjoys sharing his experiences with others in hopes that he can help someone have their own adventure.

Paul Valone- Political Activist, 2^nd Amendment Advocate; Win against ‘Woke’: Defeating Leftism in Daily Life  

Becoming politically active in 1994, Paul Valone founded and continues to direct two political non-profit organizations, serves as president of a third, and has created numerous political action committees. Beyond legislative activities, he continues freelance writing, hosts the show “Guns, Politics and Freedom,” and has been interviewed and quoted by dozens of newspapers, and radio and television stations. Drawing on 28 years of grassroots leadership, Valone wrote Rules for ANTI-Radicals: A Practical Handbook for Defeating Leftism as a tactical guide for defeating leftism in both politics and daily life.

 As a Second Amendment advocate and firearms instructor who has been certified by the NRA and the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, a deputized Federal Flight Deck Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, and a United States Practical Shooting Association competitor who has completed twenty-eight advanced defensive firearms courses and certifications, Valone knows firearms and laws governing self-defense.

Sara F. Hathaway – Author and Podcaster, The Changing Earth Series.

Classes: Your Body is a Weapon – Everybody’s Self Defense Class; Avoiding Abduction– Don’t be the Victim

Sara is a country girl, born and raised in Rochester, Michigan. She grew up gardening, canning, fishing, shooting and bow hunting. After moving to the foothills of California, she expanded her survival knowledge, developing skills in wild foraging, martial arts, and upcoming planetary changes. Her knowledge culminated into a fictional series titled, The Changing Earth Series.

To present the facts behind the fiction, she started The Changing Earth Podcast and has hosted over five years of shows, featuring survival professionals from around the globe. Interweaving preparedness into every facet of her life, during the day she is an insurance professional, preparing people for catastrophe and on her down time she continues to prepare others by teaching through her podcast.

Self-defense is a primary focus of Sara’s and many days you will find her in the gym, training mixed martial arts and instructing others to protect themselves by any means necessary. She and her husband and reside in north eastern Texas with their two boys.

Sara delights in passing down the knowledge she has gained to help others prepare for what is next.

Sean Patrick Tario / Co-Founder & Managing Partner, MARK37.COM;

Classes: Ghost Phones and Ghost Computers- How Not to Be Seen By the Digital Enemy; Artificial Intelligence

Sean is a Christian Conservative father of 3, married 19 years currently living in the upstate of South Carolina. He is a seasoned IT professional, entrepreneur, author and seed stage investor having also lived and worked in Silicon Valley for 16 years. Sean has served dozens of startups and scaling companies as a general advisor, director, consultant, professional trainer and award winning sales producer. He has produced and hosted numerous high impact sales and data center marketplace training events across the country and negotiated hundreds of data center and hosting contracts with service providers around the world.

Sean has also spent time serving as a data center and hosting infrastructure industry advocate lobbying in Washington DC. He currently spends his time traveling the country educating groups on the front lines of the war we are in on how they can #BoycottBigTech by securing and protecting their communications and data.

Ronald “Pork Chop” Mangum- Ice Road Truckers Star- Founding Member Bushcraft Survival Preppers;

Class: Dutch Oven and Camp Cooking Class

Ron has been prepping his entire life. He has also been a scout master, a cub master, for the Boy Scouts of America. Ron is proficient in First Aid, Wilderness Survival, Wilderness First Aid, and Bush Rafting.

Ron has learned the tips and tricks of cooking with Dutch Ovens and cast iron on a wood fire, throughout his life in the wilderness. He will pass his tips on to you throughout the day, as well as during his class, at Prepper Camp.

L.Douglas Hogan – U.S.M.C. Veteran, LEO, Author;

Class: Surviving Martial Law

   L. Douglas Hogan is a U.S.M.C. veteran with over thirty years in public service. Among these are four years in the Marine Corps, where he served as an anti-tank infantryman and a Marksmanship Instructor, twenty-five years working in state government doing security work and supervision. He is currently a police officer where he resides in Southern Illinois. Doug also teaches seminars on leadership and anti-totalitarianism, as is reflected in his bestselling books, “Oath Takers” and “Surviving Martial Law.” He can be contacted on Facebook for public speaking engagements.

Jordan Smith –Host of Prepperbroadcasting Network’s  “Phoenix Survival”;   

Class: Utilizing Fiber for Homesteading and Survival

Jordan is a mother, a craftsman and all around country living individual.   She grew up in the foothills of Arkansas and learned to crochet at a very early age.  She has always had the passion and drive to become as self-sufficient as possible and teach those skills to her children and others.

www.prepperbroadcasting.com

Mike Murray – Navy Veteran, Merchant Mariner, Long Distance Driver;

Class: Travel Security – How to protect yourself when traveling by vehicle, whether that’s in town, through the state, or through the country.

Mike is a Navy Veteran, and has been a Merchant Mariner for over 15 years. I not only travel for work, but also, I have family and friends scattered all over the United States. I strive to see them as much as I can. I prefer to drive my own vehicle on trips. All told, I have wracked up nearly half a million miles on the nations highways in the past 15 years. I have traveled most of the United States and much of the world, and I have been mindfully prepping since 2004.

Joel Ryals, Owner, Trainer Fortress K9; 

Class: The Trained Protection Dog – A Prepper’s Best Friend – And Best Security Asset

Major Joel Ryals is a veteran of the United States Army, serving over twelve years, on active duty, and three additional years in the National Guard and Reserves. He served as a Law Enforcement Commander and as the Training Officer for the Northern Warfare Training Center (NWTC), Alaska. He deployed to Colombia, serving in the MIL Group at the Embassy in Bogota (2009). Serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2007-2008) as the Police Operations Advisor and Executive Officer, his team conducted over 240+ combat missions through the streets of Baghdad. Serving in Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan, 2003), he conducted 200+ combat missions, patrolling and perimeter security, special Forces escorts, detainee Operations and Quick Reaction Force Commander. His military experience has given him years of expertise in training for high threat situations.

For over 18 years Joel has trained, raised and bred working line German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds and Belgian Malinois. He strives to create and train the best dog available with a focus on physical health, mental capability, and solid, reliable nerves so that your Protection dog is ready to face any threat you may encounter. Joel is the owner/operator of Fortress K9 Kennels LLC and K9 Academy Online.

www.FortressK9.com;  www.k9academyonline.com; Instagram @fortressk9, @fortressk9.puppies, @k9academyonline, @fortresssurvival; Facebook @fortressk9dogs, @fortressk9.puppies, @k9academyonline

Kerry Alzner aka Gabby; Owner, SheepDog Security;

Classes:  Guerilla Warfare;Urban Break Contact- Bailing out of a vehicle under attack; CQB 

Mr. Alzner is a retired Green Beret, with over 25 years in the US Army. 9.5 in Infantry, 15.5 in Special Forces. He is a SME in training of Military skills/tactics, Security, Survival, Counter Terrorism, Basic to Advance firearms Training, Active shooter responses, Advance Driving, Personnel Security/Body Guard, Home defense preparation. He has conducted this training Worldwide.

SheepDog Security can give training to your family, your Survival Group or corporations worried about global or domestic threats, the coming collapse and terrorist attacks. Get the skills you need to survive, be prepared and to rebuild.

Shanais Pelka – Head of R&D for Organifi, Founder- Seven Springs Organic Farm; 

Class: Immunity- How to Keep Your Loved Ones Healthy

Shanais Pelka is Head of Research and Development for Organifi and the founder of Seven Springs Organic Farm.  She is an herbalist, nutritionist, health educator and mother of three.  Shanais has been formulating products for twenty years, and has formulated award-winning products that have landed on the shelves of mass retail accounts.  She specializes in functional mushrooms, adaptogens, superfoods and other medicinal herbs.  Shanais has also conducted R&D work and brought products to the market for Califia Farms, Wunderground Coffee and Real Mushrooms.  She has a Master of Science in Nutrition and Herbology, a Master of Science in Education and an MBA.

She is currently building a regenerative farm and cafe with her daughters in Green Mountain, North Carolina.  She is passionate about food, herbs, medicinal mushrooms, sustainability and community.  When Shanais isn’t on the farm or working, you can find her hiking with the dogs, hanging with her kids, cooking, fermenting, or spending time in the community.

Neal Morris – Cast Iron Cooking Expert

Class: Restoring Cast Iron Cookware

Neal Morris is a lifelong avid outdoors man who enjoys fishing, camping and backpacking and has spent years honing his personal survival skills.

Neal grew up learning to cook with cast-iron in the family home, as well as in the wild over an open fire. His extensive cast iron collection Includes pieces from the late 1800’s to present that have been restored to like new condition.

“It’s the thrill of the hunt, and the excitement of bringing a crusty and rusty piece of decades old cast iron back to life.”

Neal spent 6 years in the US Marine Corps and has been an Operating Room Nurse for the last 24 years.

Mary Elizabeth Williams, Brand Ambassador – Wild Abundance;

Class: Tanning Hides the Old Fashioned Way – Brain Tanning

Mary Elizabeth is a compassionate prepper dedicated to communicating and building community through hands on learning experiences. As a student of the Wild Abundance online hide tanning course, Mary Elizabeth has reclaimed ancestral skills that she is grateful to be sharing at Prepper Camp. She is a brand ambassador and community advocate on behalf of Wild Abundance and welcomes you to take the one hour Introduction to Brain Tanning class at Prepper Camp 2021. Stop by her booth space to feel buckskin and check out the other services and classes that Wild Abundance has to offer, and of course to join her as a student of the online Hide Tanning Course.

https://wildabundance.mykajabi.com/hide-tanning-course-offer 

David J Dietrich – GetReady! Emergency Planning Center. US Air Force (RET) Officer

Class: Terrorism Trauma Care – For Active Shooters and IEDs; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Class

David Dietrich is a retired United States Air Force officer.  He was a military pilot, intelligence officer, and strategic planner.  David is a life-long prepper and survivalist.

David was a Boy Scout and an active leader in the Boy Scouts of America for over fifteen years.  He taught wilderness survival, first aid, fire and emergency preparedness.

David has taken military Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training.  He is a certified first aid instructor for Basic, CPR, AED, and Wilderness First Aid.

David also presents seminars and courses on trauma treatment, water treatment, bartering, emergency kits, land navigation, food planning, foraging, and scavenging.

David provides his services and products through GetReady! Emergency Planning Center.  His business focuses on first aid, water treatment, food, and survival gear.

GetReady! is located at 11 West Mercury Boulevard, Hampton, Virginia, in Langley Square Shopping Center. Their website is www.getemergencyready.com

Ryan Buford – Father and Son Prepping Podcast Host: Tactical Torture the Next Generation Show;

Class: Freeze-Drying for Survival

Ryan has been freeze-drying products for years.  He has unique knowledge and experience on what works, and what doesn’t. And he can provide insight into what the ups and downs are for owning a freeze-drier.

Ryan’s podcast show is based on relating general prepping knowledge to everyday scenarios as ways to explain the importance of “old” survival skills and how they apply today. At the end of each show, the last 10-15 minutes, we dedicate time to a “Pint Sized Prepper Project” where we use the show as a springboard to embody the topic with a hands-on project, like building a lantern or a kit or a rocket stove or whatever.

Greg New – US Army Veteran, Master BeeKeeper; 

Class: Basic Beekeeping; 

Greg has worked on and off of farms since he was in the 7^th grade. He has studied small scale farming and sustainable agriculture most of his adult life. He joined the US Army at age 21 and served for 25 years. The last 17 years were in 3^rd and 5^th Special Forces group. He has deployed to more than 15 countries and has 11 combat deployments. He and his wife settled in Tennessee in 2007. They have been keeping bees since 2013 and are certified master beekeepers in Tennessee. They produced just over 43 gallons of honey last season (2022). They expanded their apiary hives through intensive management and splitting techniques and currently operate four bee yards of +/- 10  hives respectively.

Their farm produces Heritage (Hereford and Hereford/Berkshire cross) hogs, spray free blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, and mulberries, apples, plums, pears, and shitake mushrooms for personal use and barter.

Homesteading/prepper skills include raising pastured pigs, pressure and hot bath canning, dehydrating, making various homemade wines, elderberry syrup, and handcrafted skincare products and herbal salves (www.honeybgoodness.com; Honey-B-Goodness@facebook.com). They have also raise and keep chickens in tractors and free range. They have developed and continue to refine an informal barter and retail network for their products and for the purposes of security and community. They attend and are active members of a local church. Greg teaches adult Sunday school, Wednesday night bible study, and is the lead trainer in the church security team. Future plans are to increase honey yield through intensive management and to spend more time fishing.

Nicolle Wallace: NRA Pistol Instructor, NC Concealed Carry Handgun Instructor;

Classes: Home Defense; Firearms for Women

Nicolle grew up as an Army BRAT and was fortunate to be able to live and travel to many places all over the world. She loves the military and has always felt a strong desire to serve in ways she believes makes the world a better place. She joined the Air Force out of high school and became an avionics technician on helicopters and then B-52s. She separated from the AF after her daughter was born but continued to serve as a military spouse until they retired in 2013.

Nicolle became a CrossFit instructor while living in Okinawa in 2008, and discovered her love for teaching. It is a wonderful thing to help someone step out of their comfort zone and realize that they are fully capable of doing amazing things they never imagined they could do. Fast forward a few years and Nicolle met Dave who introduced her to handguns and all the fun that can be had in the firearms field. Nicolle holds her NRA pistol instructor certification and is a NC Concealed Carry Handgun instructor. She loves to work with new shooters and help them become both confident and competent with their firearms.

Jan Emore – Professional Leather Worker, Prepper and Homesteader;

Class: Unique and Efficient Every Day Carry Items; Bug Out Bags – Create One that is Realistic, Light, Smart, and Fight Ready; Wine Making – Made Simple.

Jan Emore has over 30 years of professional leather working experience including custom saddles, and Indian Motorcyles. She has also worked with many military, federal, and private operators customizing the way they carry their every-day carry rigs to help them operate smoothly and safety in the field.

Ken Hardy – CCW Safe- Legal Defense for Self Defense

Classes: What Happens After Bang; Situational Awarness

Ken Hardy is a former law enforcement officer of 12 years, charter boat captain, scuba instructor, all around adventurer and NRA Pistol Instructor. Over the last 30 years, Ken has operated a sales and marketing company as an entrepreneur and businessman

Ken currently works for CCW Safe, a legal defense for self defense company that provides its members with unlimited legal defense should they have to defend themselves.

Ken is an expert in vigilance, situational awareness and the US Judicial system. His Law Enforcement Career, and his life experience have left him with a passion to educate people in the law, about self-defense, and training to avoid situations where possible and respond appropriately where avoidance is not possible. He has lived in many places and was always involved in some form of civic service in his community. He says his life mission now is to prepare people for vigilance, self-reliance, and understanding the US Legal system in protecting themselves against an attack.

Andrew Pitts – Blacksmith

Class: Beginning Blacksmithing

Andrew Pitts is a blacksmith, jeweler and owner of The Grumpy Smith LLC. After a ten year career in locksmithing he left the trade and went back to school.  He graduated from the Haywood Community College Professional Crafts program in 2013. Having left school with an A.A.S in Professional Crafts – Jewelry and a Certificate of Blacksmithing he set about plying his new trade in North Carolina until becoming ill and needing to close and move to Virginia. Now having recovered significantly he has started working again as owner of the Grumpy Smith LLC. 

Andrew Pitts has a cost effective way to build a forge which overcomes the obstacle of cost, when trying to do the job of a blacksmith. Andrew shows us a more primitive way to build tools with his class-  “Beginning Blacksmithing”  

Drawing on the problem solving skills developed over a decade of work as a locksmith, he employs the art of metalworking to address the needs of clients. Living in the mountains has given Andrew an increased responsibility to provide for family and friends in time of need. Teaching and passing on what he has learned is one way he hopes to help others. 

Melvin Case – Wild Life Damage Control Agent;

Classes: Trapping Game and Predators; Firestarting

Melvin Case has been a Wildlife Damage Control Agent for N.C. Wildlife since 2007. He will discuss how to protect your harvest and your livestock from wildlife and predators, and will show you how to harvest meat, fur and leather from wild resources.

Jonathan Glauser -Founder and Owner of Mountain Well-Being;

Classes: Colloidal Silver- The virus Killer; Foraging Mushrooms

Jonathan Glauser, the creator of Mountain Well-Being, is a leading expert in the field of colloidal solutions and natural health.  He’s been passionate about healthy living for most of his life and strongly believes that well-being is a direct result of proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.  Jonathan is skilled in organic and aquaponic gardening and grows the majority of his own food.  Living as sustainably as possible, he is a steward of the Earth and loves spending his free time outside surrounded by nature.  He keeps physically active by biking, paddling, hiking and skiing. 

www.mountainwellbeing.com 

Nik Davrados – RedEyeReloading.com 

Class: Reloading Ammunition

Years ago, Nik Davrados got this wild idea to start buying up reloading supplies from individuals, estate sales, closing gun shops and manufacturers. He then started selling this vast collection using social media. An instant message here, a text message there and he was up and rolling. The more Nik sold, the more he built relationships and started what became the RedEye family and www.redeyereloading.com. As the business grew he pulled more and more people to help him. Fast forward to today and here we are; Years later, bringing you the best that reloading has to offer! Redeye currently has over 500+ die sets in stock, 25 presses and an array of components new and pulled.

Now he has taken his years of experience as a classroom teacher and created RER Educational Services and www.learn2reload.com where he offers the NRA certified course for basic metallic loading. In development now are course for advanced reloading, long range and casting.

Redeye Reloading LLC

www.Redeyereloading.com

Dr. P. Rex Walker – Pastor, Prepper, Surveyor

Class: Mental and Spiritual Preparedness

Dr. P. Rex Walker is the Pastor of East Elkin Baptist Church, a Life Coach and Counselor, Public Speaker, Vice President of the Piedmont College of Theology, and Vice President of Peace for Israel. He is also a Professional Land Surveyor, a fluvial-geomorphologist, sedimentologist, river and stream expert, consultant for real estate, land use planning, stream restoration and floodplain management. In 1991, he founded Big Eagle Surveying, PLLC, which he still owns and operates. He has been a pastor for the past 19 years, a professor of Paleo Hebrew and Hebraic Studies, and a Professional Land Surveyor for over 36 years. He has held a private pilot’s license since the age of 17. He received his B.S. in Earth Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and his Master’s and Doctorate Degrees from the North Carolina College of Theology. He has served as the President and on the Board of Directors of the Piedmont Chapter of the North Carolina Society of Surveyors. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, outdoorsman, competitive shooter, range officer and instructor, and a self-reliant lone traveler; Overlanding, Offroading (4×4 and ATV) and camping. He has also spent an extensive amount of time traveling alone in foreign lands, especially Israel, having led several tour groups to the Land. He has authored two books, one on how to navigate with a compass or GPS and how to use topographic maps, the other “The Homebuyers Guide”. He is the proud father of three sons who are currently serving in the U. S. Army, U. S. Marine Corps, and the U. S. Air Force.

Five Times August – The Political Protest Songs of Our Times.  Saturday Night Musical Artist

Five Times August is the solo act of singer/songwriter Brad Skistimas. Skistimas has appeared on the FOX Business channel as an expert “Do-It-Yourself” indie artist and featured in Billboard Magazine, Performing Songwriter, Guitar Player, People Magazine, and USA Today. He was the first completely unsigned act to have an album distributed in Walmart stores nationwide with 2007’s “The Independent.” The music has been featured on many popular TV shows, commercials, and films and tour dates have supported some of the nation’s top acts.

In early 2021 Five Times August began releasing a series of protest songs taking aim at Covid-era regulations, the Biden administration, and most recently Anthony Fauci with the hit song “Sad Little Man,” which has reached #1 on several Amazon and Apple Music charts.

Several of the music videos for these tracks have been suppressed or censored on social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook. Despite being restricted by big tech recent press includes prominent features on Glenn Beck, Chad Prather, Del Bigtree’s The HighWire, The Federalist, The Post Millennial, RebelNews, and more. Most recently Skistimas performed his song “Silent War” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC for 35,000 attendees at the Defeat the Mandate rally on January 23rd.

Brad will play some of his most popular protest songs prior to the Key Note address on Saturday Night. And be watching for his videos between classes over the entire weekend.

Saturday Night Keynote Speaker- for Prepper Camp 2024:

Professor David Clements – Election Integrity Attorney, Creator:  “Let My People Go” Movie

David Clements is an attorney, and former award winning business law professor and prosecutor. During his legal career, Professor  Clements was a leader in trial teams that secured eight first degree murder convictions, including members of the “AZ Boys” drug trafficking organization.  

Professor Clements now applies his evidentiary and courtroom experience to the realm of elections. His advocacy has led to audits and canvassing operations being implemented across the country, with some efforts resulting in elimination of election machines that facilitate fraud.  Professor Clements has been a regular guest on numerous conservative podcasts, including Steve Bannon’s War Room.

He is also the creator of the documentary “Let My People Go.”

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