From Montana to Virginia: Chimney Snake Meets the Homesteaders

A weekend of innovation, inspiration,
and a refreshing reminder of what really matters.

Last week, we packed up our gear, boarded a plane, and headed from Montana to Front Royal, Virginia, for the Homesteaders of America Conference.

And WOW. What a weekend!

We came to introduce Chimney Snake to the homesteading community. What we didn't expect was just how much this experience would mean to us.

From the beautiful weather to the incredible turnout, everything exceeded our expectations. But the best part? The people.

We met so many homesteaders who understood exactly why we invented Chimney Snake. People who heat their homes with wood, value self-sufficiency, and know firsthand the challenges of keeping a woodstove chimney clean.

These were our people.

And the response to Chimney Snake? Unbelievable!

There's something incredibly rewarding about watching someone's face light up when they realize they can clean their woodstove chimney from inside their home, without climbing onto the roof or wrestling with brushes and rods.

Knowing we've introduced so many families to a simpler, faster way to handle routine chimney cleaning made every mile of that journey worthwhile.

More Than Just a Conference

The conference itself was impressive, with an outstanding lineup of speakers, including renowned homesteader and author Joel Salatin and his son.

But something else caught our attention almost immediately.

The children.

This was truly a family-friendly event, with activities designed to entertain, educate, and inspire young minds. Kids participated in hands-on classes, learning everything from fiber arts using wool to food fermentation and where their food comes from.

Wonderful stuff.

But you know what impressed us most?

What happened when the kids had absolutely nothing planned.

That's when the magic began.

In a world where it sometimes seems impossible to find a child or teenager without a device in their hands, these kids were a breath of fresh air.

We didn't see a single smartphone in their hands all weekend.

Instead, we watched them invent games beneath the bleachers. Strike up conversations with vendors—and actually show interest in what those vendors were selling!

They laughed. They raced barefoot. They rolled down grassy hills and swung from tree limbs.

They were doing something that seems increasingly rare these days.

They were simply being kids.

Honestly, if someone had set up a few cameras, I would have sworn they were filming a new episode of Little House on the Prairie.

And I mean that in the very best possible way.

There was something wonderfully refreshing about watching children who were curious, creative, imaginative, and genuinely engaged with the world around them.

No screens. No distractions. Just kids being kids.

It was a reminder that childhood doesn't need to be scheduled down to the minute or entertained by something with a charging cord.

Sometimes all children need is a grassy hill, a little imagination, and the freedom to explore.

We could all learn something from that.

A Little Virginia Magic

We also had the opportunity to spend some time around Manassas, Virginia, where our son and daughter-in-law live.

And can we talk about the scenery for a minute?

Living in Montana, we're certainly no strangers to beautiful landscapes. We're surrounded by mountains, towering pines, and magnificent forests.

But Virginia's woods?

Oh, my goodness.

There's something entirely different about those thick, lush woods, with trees stretching in every direction and winding roads disappearing beneath a canopy of leaves.

And in autumn?

Please. Don't even get me started.

The colors, the scenery, the atmosphere. It was absolutely gorgeous.

Montana will always have our hearts, but Virginia certainly knows how to put on a show.

Until We Meet Again!

We're already looking ahead to our next event in March, and we're excited about all the opportunities to introduce Chimney Snake to more wood-burning homeowners.

But no matter how many conferences and trade shows we attend, something tells us this one will always hold a special place in our hearts.

We arrived in Virginia hoping to share an invention that grew out of our own experiences living in the Montana mountains.

We left with new friendships, wonderful memories, and an even greater appreciation for the homesteading community.

Self-sufficiency. Ingenuity. Family. Community.

Those aren't just words to the people we met in Virginia. They're a way of life.

And we're grateful to have been a small part of it.

Thank you, Homesteaders of America, for an unforgettable weekend.

We can't wait to come back!

— The Chimney Snake Team 🐍🔥