Heritage Explorers Celebrate Homeschooling, Homesteading in Ohio’s Appalachia

The group’s founder, Tara Dodrill, says that homeschooling and homesteading are connected because of independence and self-reliance.
Heritage Explorers Celebrate Homeschooling, Homesteading in Ohio’s Appalachia
Homesteader Melissa Renee teaches a foraging class at the Heritage Explorers Fest and History Fair in McArthur, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025. Jeff Louderback/The Epoch Times
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MCARTHUR, Ohio—From a 60-acre homestead in the Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio, Tara Dodrill homeschools her 10-year-old grandson, Cole. For the family, homeschooling and homesteading are connected, and Dodrill’s experience inspired her to start an event that teaches hands-on skills for children interested in both.

The Heritage Explorers Fest and History Fair, which took place earlier this month, originated from the first edition of what was then the Old School Survival Boot Camp and is now the Heritage Skills USA Homesteading Summit.

Jeff Louderback
Jeff Louderback
Reporter
Jeff Louderback covers news and features on the White House and executive agencies for The Epoch Times. He also reports on Senate and House elections. A professional journalist since 1990, Jeff has a versatile background that includes covering news and politics, business, professional and college sports, and lifestyle topics for regional and national media outlets.