Alaska Farm and Garden Show this weekend at the Menard Center

The first ever Alaska Farm and Garden Show, hosted by Mat-Su Events, will be held Feb. 1-2 at the Menard Center. Roughly 100 vendors and businesses with a focus on farming, homesteading, and self-sustainability from across Alaska will be in attendance. Visitors will have a chance to visit with vendors and attend seminars throughout the weekend.

Mat-Su Events Owner Matt Rowley said that this show was the result of overwhelming interest and a need for people in the Valley.

“People have such an interest in all things living off the land,” Rowley said. “Whether it’s farming, gardening, alternative energy, food sustainability, growing their own food, raising their own animals, raising chickens for eggs and meat… There’s just so much interest in that.”

This event will provide businesses a chance to interact with their customer base directly. Rowley said this will be a great opportunity for attendees to find answers to their farming and homesteading questions.

Two seminars will start at the top of the hour throughout the event. Topics include starting and cooking with sourdough, raising chickens, hydroponic gardening, flour milling, beekeeping, how to start certain flower varieties and more. Attendance for seminars is free, and some will occur multiple times throughout the show.

“We’ve got a full weekend of seminars,” Rowley said.

Rowley explained that his extended family is very much involved with Mat-Su Events, and all work in one way or another to live sustainably off the land through farming and gardening. He said their interest was just as important for hosting this show.

“We’re all trying to live off the land as much as possible,” Rowley said. “This event is as much for our extended family as it is for the community.”

There is a $10 admission fee for adults, and kids 12 and under enter for free. The show will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sat. and 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sun. There will be food trucks in the parking lot outside and concessions open inside the facility.

Whether someone is new to Alaska and its homesteading opportunities, or an old sourdough hoping to learn something new, there’s plenty for everyone at this year’s Alaska Farm and Garden Show.

“For people that are interested in homesteading and self-sufficiency, this is the place they can come to meet up with businesses that offer products or services of interest to them,” Rowley said.

For more information and a detailed seminar schedule, visit the Alaska Farm and Garden Show Website at: https://akfarmandgarden.com/