2024 Speakers & Celebrities

HGTV & MAGNOLIA NETWORK'S TAMARA DAY

Meet designer Tamara Day, host of HGTV & Magnolia Network’s Bargain Mansions appearing on stage Friday and Saturday  where she'll share her expert advice on Home Updates for a Bargain!

Tamara is in her sixth season of restoring neglected Kansas City homes on Bargain Mansions. When Tamara is not in front of the camera, she is committed to her family, design business, and retail store, Growing Days, Located in Kansas City. Her style, coined "Laid Back Luxe," is synonymous with blending glamour, comfort, and family into the spaces she designs – something she personally prioritizes. As a busy mother of four, Tamara believes homes should be both beautiful and low maintenance because life is stressful enough.

See Tamara on stage Friday at 6pm & Saturday at 12pm!

Joel Karsten – The Straw Bale Gardener

JOEL KARSTEN, a farm boy who grew up tending a soil garden like other gardeners have for centuries, shook up the gardening world with his first book describing his breakthrough Straw Bale Gardening concept.  The New York Times called Straw Bale Gardening “a revolutionary gardening method” and his ideas have been enthusiastically embraced globally, making his books best-sellers in many languages.  Karsten earned a BS in Horticulture from the University of Minnesota and spends his summers tending his vegetable garden, doing research, and experimenting with new ideas and methods he can pass along to his followers.  He is a popular speaker, making appearances around the world at events celebrating innovation, garden enthusiasts and healthful lifestyles. He is renowned for his social media presence, blog and on-line impressions.  Karsten has inspired tens of thousands of first-time gardeners and a legion of “seasoned” growers who found a new and better way to pursue their passion. He has inspired many “retired” gardeners to begin gardening again once they learn how his method eliminates the physical challenges found in traditional soil gardening.  Discover more information about Karsten and his revolutionary methods at www.StrawBaleGardens.com.  Links to his Facebook page, WordPress blog, YouTube Channel, Twitter and His TEDx talk can all be found on his website.

Joel will be on our Garden Stage on Friday at 2pm & 4pm, Saturday at 11am & 3pm, and Sunday at 1pm & 3pm!

Proud Souls Barbecue & Provisions featuring World Champion Food Network star, Fergolicious BBQ

Come smell, taste and learn about the deliciousness of KC's premiere BBQ supply store, Proud Souls Barbecue & Provisions.   Proud Souls will be showcasing all the top brands of grills and smokers coupled with their own World Champion pitmaster Richard Fergola of Fergolicious BBQ.  Richard has been featured on Destination America’s BBQ Pitmasters, Food Network's Chopped & BBQ USA w/Michael Symon as well as Barbecue Country on The Country Network.

Fergola is also the Director of Marketing with Proud Souls and be headlining the BBQ demo at this year's event.  Become a BBQ master yourself after watching them on stage, and after "tasting turns to believing", be sure to take home some of the award-winning seasonings being featured in booth #2425 at the show.

ON STAGE: Friday 5pm, Saturday 1pm and Sunday at noon

Matt Stewart from Fox 4 News

Don't miss your chance to meet Matt Stewart, Morning Reporter/Anchor on Fox 4 News! Matt will be at the show autographing his new book book, "The Kansas City Royals, An Illustrated Timeline" & his previous book "Unique Eats & Eateries of Kansas City", on Saturday from 11am - 1pm. 

See Mac - The Maverick!

Don't miss your chance to meet Mac - The Maverick at this year's show! Spreading Kansas City pride around the show floor and sharing his excitement about Mavericks Hockey!

See Mac at the show on Sunday, Feb. 18th from 12pm-3pm.