Speaker Schedule

Expert Speakers for 2025 Chaffee Home & Garden Show

Show organizers have revealed the lineup of home and gardening experts who will present over two days on a variety of helpful topics specific to Chaffee County – its residents, its landscape, its environment. Read on to discover the list of educational seminars that will be presented at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds’ South Building on both Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6.

New Electrical Smart Meters

Tim will be discussing battery storge New Smart Meters will change everyone’s electric rates. Come learn the in and outs of this significant change, and how to best take advantage of the opportunity.

Tim Klco is president of Peak Solar Designs serving Chaffee and surrounding counties since 2004. Tim is certified by the National Board of Certified Energy Practitioners® and a member of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association. Peak Solar Designs specializes in grid interactive and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and has installed nearly 6 megawatts of residential PV systems in Chaffee County alone.

New Kitchen Tools for Cooking and Baking

Star Belmonte, Owner, The Mixing Bowl

Who doesn’t want the latest tools to make cooking and baking easier? You’ll see the greatest gadget demonstrations and taste some delicious gourmet foods at this fun session!

Star Belmonte is a 35+ year Salida local. Star and her husband John (born in Salida) are the owners of The Mixing Bowl in downtown Salida. You can find the most delicious gourmet foods, top kitchen gadgets, and cookware, along with beautiful local art at their store.

Experience the Joy of Sourdough Baking

Kristina Smith, “Dough Mama”

In this session, spend time learning some of the science behind how you can use a sourdough starter to create a variety of baked goods. Enjoy the conversations from a self-taught sourdough baker while trying a variety of delicious sourdough baked goods. 

Kristina Smith has always had a passion for cooking and baking. As a stay-at-home mom for over 13 years, she felt it was time to do something for herself. So in 2024, she started Dough Mama, a sourdough micro-bakery in her home. Dough Mama has allowed Kristina to pursue her passion for baking, while also continuing to be actively involved in her kids’ day to day activities. The business has continued to grow with an expanding sourdough menu featuring loaves, rolls, bagels, pretzels, scones, muffins, cookies, pancake mix, and more which are all made fresh to order.

Season Extension & High-Altitude Gardening: Grow More Than You Think!

Discover how to extend your harvest in Chaffee County’s high desert climate! From Grow Domes to DIY low tunnels and cut flowers to tomatoes, there are simple, effective ways to grow more. Join Attila Agoston, Guidestone’s Farm & Food System Director, for an informative session packed with practical tips you can apply in your home garden. Bring your high-altitude gardening questions and get ready to grow!.

Attila is passionate about growing food for the community and all things farm-related. Before joining Guidestone as the Farm and Food Systems Director, he operated a Certified Organic vegetable operation in Virginia near the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers for 15 years. In some intervening years he also had a fun side career doing science support in Antarctica and Greenland. When he’s not on the farm you may run into him out in the high mountains above town skiing and scrambling around off-trail.

Don’t Let Weeds Ruin Your Dreams

Derald Brady, Brady’s West

Weed control is a critical issue to have a successful garden and landscape. Derald Brady will be discussing the importance of pre-emergents in your weed management efforts. New weed killer products on the market will be discussed. This session will review how to best apply any chemical treatment and how to avoid over use of chemicals.

Derald Brady grew up in a family-run nursery first in Westcliffe and then Canon City, before he and his three brothers formed Brady Brothers, Inc. in the 1990s. In 2008, the Brady Brothers bought the former Denoyer’s nursery in Salida and renamed it Brady’s West with Derald assuming responsibility for managing it.

Backyard Garden 101: From Lawn to Food

Maytal Agasi, Garden Educator, Guidestone

Dreaming of a thriving home garden but unsure where to start? Learn how to transform your yard into a productive, food-filled oasis with Maytal Agasi, Guidestone’s Garden Educator. This session will walk you through the essential steps—from planning and soil prep to planting and maintenance—so you can turn your lawn into an abundant, homegrown harvest. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to expand your skills, this workshop will give you the confidence to start growing!

Maytal has a deep love and admiration for all things earth; whether it’s farm fresh veggies, mountain tops, rich soil, or a delicate flower, she is all in.  You’ll find her running the Salida school gardens, coordinating the community garden spaces, teaching Farmhands camps, and digging her hands in the soil at the Guidestone Community and School Farm. Maytal has been working and volunteering on farms around the world for the past 9 years and is excited to have found her home in Salida.

DIY Home Irrigation Systems

Derald Brady, Brady’s West

Growing anything in the mountains requires an irrigation solution. Today irrigation for a homeowner can be done by yourself. Come learn from Derald Brady’s lifetime of experience in home irrigation systems. Understand the basics of irrigation systems and products. Understand how to best support your home garden or landscaping needs.

Derald Brady grew up in a family-run nursery first in Westcliffe and then Canon City, before he and his three brothers formed Brady Brothers, Inc. in the 1990s. In 2008, the Brady Brothers bought the former Denoyer’s nursery in Salida and renamed it Brady’s West with Derald assuming responsibility for managing it.

Fruit Trees 101

Derald Brady, Brady’s West

From the spring flowers to the fall harvest, fruit trees offer an amazing opportunity for improving your home’s landscaping. Derald Brady will bring his family’s lifetime experience to help homeowners understand how to make fruit trees excel, including maintenance, treatments and pruning.

Derald Brady grew up in a family-run nursery first in Westcliffe and then Canon City, before he and his three brothers formed Brady Brothers, Inc. in the 1990s. In 2008, the Brady Brothers bought the former Denoyer’s nursery in Salida and renamed it Brady’s West with Derald assuming responsibility for managing it.