Planning the Homestead with Dr. Steve Higgins: Efficiency Meets Practicality

When it comes to turning homesteading dreams into functional, thriving realities, few voices are as refreshingly practical—as Dr. Steve Higgins, the University of Kentucky’s go-to resource for agricultural efficiency and systems design.

With decades of experience improving efficiency on large-scale farming operations, Dr. Higgins has taken those same tried-and-true engineering principles and scaled them down to fit the backyard homesteader. His approach helps anyone—from five hundred acres to five—create systems that make sense, save time, and work with the land instead of against it.

As both an engineer and educator, Dr. Higgins teaches people how to think like problem-solvers. He’s not here to sell one-size-fits-all solutions—he shows you how to read the landscape, plan smartly, and make decisions that are both efficient and sustainable.

At this year’s Tri-State Homesteading Conference, Dr. Higgins will lead the keynote session, “Planning the Homestead,” where he’ll unpack the principles of good design:

• Efficient flow for people, animals, and equipment

• Water movement and site selection for sustainability

• Layouts that save time, labor, and money

• Systems that grow with your goals

In short, he brings the science of engineering and the heart of homesteading together to help you turn your vision into a well-designed, productive reality.

🌾 Join Dr. Steve Higgins and fellow homesteaders at the 2025 Tri-State Homesteading Conference, Saturday, November 8, at the Boone County Enrichment Center.👉 Register by November 1: www.tristatehomesteadersconference.com