Homegrown Gathering 2026

Part pep rally, part summer camp, part business conference, Homegrown Gathering provides a forum to hear the stories of other female rural business owners, fill your cup with support and encouragement, build personal and business connections, and celebrate the creativity and resiliency of rural life.

Since 2024, hundreds of rural female business owners from Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth, and Wellington Counties have gathered with us.

• you want to connect IRL with other rural business owners (and not at the grocery store, arena or school pickup).
• you’re ready to grow your business.
• you’re so over Googling the answer to your business questions.
• you feel lonely, insignificant or discouraged.
• you want to celebrate rural living.

We gather to plant seeds of growth, let our dreams take root, cultivate community, and bloom in good company.

Your ticket includes:

• Full event program, including two panel discussions, your choice of a morning and afternoon group chat, and networking;
• Light breakfast from Cait's Cafe;
• Grassroots Woodfired Pizza and salad buffet lunch, with Salt Mine Creamery ice cream for dessert;
• Complimentary headshot; and
• Chance to win door prizes.

What past attendees have said about Homegrown:

“Business ownership can be lonely and community is wildly inspiring. I'll never get enough of this event!”

"I loved meeting and connecting with local entrepreneurs, and finding diversity right in my backyard.”

“Really enjoyed the mature, raw, honest panel conversations.”

“I feel inspired to grow in different ways than I thought possible.”

Homegrown is a day to pause, connect, and come back to what matters. Whether you come on your own or with a few good friends, you’ll leave with fresh perspective, new connections, and maybe even a few ideas ready to take root.

Stepping away from the day-to-day to invest in yourself isn’t easy—but it’s always worth it. We’ve created the space. You just have to show up.

Homegrown Gathering 2026 is made possible through the support of these sponsors:
Lead Partner: Huron Business Centre

Founding Partner: LaunchIt Business Exploration Centre

Venue Sponsors: County of Bruce, Township of Huron-Kinloss

Breakfast Sponsor: Community Futures Huron

Lunch & Dessert Sponsors:

• Bruce Economic Development Corporations
• Perth Community Futures Corporation
• Saugeen Economic Development Corporation, and
• Waterloo-Wellington Community Futures.

Photography Sponsors: County of Wellington, Grey County

In-Kind Sponsors:

• Business Centre Guelph-Wellington, Operational Support
• Grassroots Woodfired Pizza, Speaker Sponsor
• Lunar Lounge Salon, Speaker Sponsor
• May's Specialities / May's Cafe at the Old Post, Speaker Sponsor
• Oats & Honey Homestead, Speaker Sponsor
• Rebel Soul Media, Speaker Sponsor

Info: Grab your coffee and a snack from Cait’s Café, smile (or not!) for your complimentary headshot, make a new friend, and find a seat.

Info: Moderated by Tricia Denomme, Business Advisor, Huron Business Centre.

Info: If you don’t have a handful of business besties you can chat with on the regular, these group chats will be just what you need to start building your community! Led by local business owners experts, these hour-long chats are designed for free-flowing, informal conversations on topics relevant to the experience of owning a rural business.

Sign up for a morning and afternoon group chat when you purchase your ticket!

Info: Pizza Lunch & Salad Buffet from Grassroots Woodfired Pizza. Dessert from Salt Mine Creamery.

Info: Moderated by Kristel Manes, Executive Director, Business Centre Guelph-Wellington

Info: If you don’t have a handful of business besties you can chat with on the regular, these group chats will be just what you need to start building your community! Led by local business owners experts, these hour-long chats are designed for free-flowing, informal conversations on topics relevant to the experience of owning a rural business.

Sign up for a morning and afternoon group chat when you purchase your ticket!

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Huron Business Centre