Celebrities & Speakers appearing at the Des Moines Home + Garden Show

Craig Conover

Craig Conover is a fan favorite from Bravo’s hit reality series Southern Charm. Once teased on the show for his passion for sewing, Craig turned that pastime into a thriving career as co-founder of Sewing Down South, a fast-growing southern-based lifestyle brand.

With flagship stores in Charleston, SC, and Nashville, TN, the brand continues to expand—most recently announcing a 2025 partnership with Belk to produce exclusive summer and holiday collections.

Originally from Fenwick Island, Delaware, Craig is deeply connected to his family. When his mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, he returned home to help care for her, honing his cooking skills along the way. Inspired by her recovery journey, he even created a line of iodine-free meals.

Beyond business, Craig is committed to giving back. He serves on the board for Hope for the Warriors, and has used his platform to spotlight charities close to his heart. Through Sewing Down South, he has also raised funds for Hurricane Dorian relief efforts.

A licensed attorney, Craig is a graduate of the College of Charleston and Charleston School of Law. He is also the author of the best-selling memoir Pillow Talk: What’s Wrong with My Sewing?

ON STAGE: Friday / Saturday

View the Rose Farm Inspiration Stage Schedule

Karri Rose

Karri invites you to experience the beauty + peace at Rose Farm. As a dream-seeker, she gave up her role as Executive Director for the #1 beauty brand, AVEDA, to pursue her passion in 2018. She had spent the previous 21 years working next to small business owners and service providers, helping them grow personally and professionally. Karri is now the owner + operator of Rose Farm, a 25-acre farmstead located in the rolling hills of Norwalk, Iowa, focusing on sustainability, stewardship of the land, conservation and community-supported agriculture.

When Karri started dreaming about opening the farm in 2018, she enrolled in + completed the Iowa State Master Gardening Program, which takes participants from a trainee, to an intern, to a master. As a part of the program, she was required to complete forty hours of volunteering. With a passion for community service, Karri was thrilled to find a way to give back to the Rose Farm community. After many mornings spent brainstorming, the concept of Farm School was born. Philanthropy will always be a driving force in Karri's life. ‍

Karri's Southern heritage is a gift she uses to bring people together through hospitality, entertaining at the farm and inspiring others to give through philanthropy. Karri is a believer in beautiful celebrations, overseeing all boutique-sized celebrations at the farmstead. With an exquisite attention to detail, she makes even the simplest get-togethers special and thoughtful. She is also the founder of Victoria's House, a cozy guest home with accomodations for eight guests on the Rose Farm property where guests are invited to take a sabbatical + enjoy the magic of the countryside.

A lover of life, animals and all living things, Karri’s farm is a reflection of the commitment she has made to leave this world a better place. She’s an old soul who finds purpose in caring for the world around her. The minute you pull up to the white farmhouse and see the chickens happily grazing, and spot the vivid colors of the vibrant florals, you will quickly understand that it is passion which has built this dream.

Patrick Rose

Patrick is the master builder on the farm. His hard-working hands have built the greenhouse, hen house, high tunnels and bird habitats. His green thumb is responsible for the garden plot layouts. He is the grower, the harvester, the hay farmer and the bee keeper. Patrick has helped to bring Karri's dreams to life. His work ethic cannot be matched and he is, without a doubt, the "Chief Giver of the Family." When he is not on the farm, he is working as a Captain for the Des Moines Fire Department and is officially retired after 30 years of service for the Iowa Army National Guard

Ali Craig

Ali was part of our Busy Bee team for multiple years where she planted flowers in the high tunnels, helped with floral + pest management, and harvested florals. Ali, an Illinois native, attended lowa State University where she received her degree in horticulture in May 2024. This past spring she embarked on a new adventure and business venture with starting her own flower farm, The Backyard Farm. The Backyard Farm is a cut-flower farm located just outside of the Quad Cities, growing beautiful flowers and educating others along the way!

Christine Hilbert

Christine Hilbert is a mixed media artist and jewelry designer based in Winterset, Iowa. She combines vintage treasures of all kinds to create artwork and jewelry that echoes the past. Christine earned her BFA from Iowa State University and also studied painting at the Savannah College of Art & Design. She is the Artist in Residence for The Well Women’s Ministry in Des Moines as well as for Ballet Des Moines Winter 2016 season. She works as a designer for her accessory line, Bean & the Sprout. She is the author of Echo of the Star. You can view more of her work at http://www.christinehilbert.com/.

Maggie Glisan

Maggie is the owner + creator of Oh Hey Magpie, a local purveyor of custom gifts and goodies. Maggie spent the bulk of her career at Better Homes & Gardens as a designer, art director, and food editor. Entertaining is her love language. She's been hostesting ever since reading her mom's issue of Martha Stewart Living in the early 90s—it was a good thing!—and wants to take the intimidation factor out of having people over. When she's not setting tables, whipping up cheese boards, or illustrating personalized party touches, you can find her at home in Beaverdale watching Ted Lasso with her husband Justin and rescue pup George Stanley.

Ali Coppola

Ali is the owner + scent curator of Currently Co., a small-batch, luxury soy candle brand, hand-poured in Des Moines. She has experience in floral design for weddings + special events. Ali is a wife, a mom of 3, native Iowan, former school counselor and creator of pretty things. She loves fragrant eucalyptus and fresh flowers in blue mason jars, along with bergamot-scented candles and a hot cup of coffee. Ali is wonderful at appealing to all of the senses by making a room look, feel, sound and smell comforting and inviting. In her free time, she can be found creating all sorts of things, boating at Lake Panorama, and traveling with her family.

At the farm, you'll find Ali teaching seasonal wreath-making workshoppes, as well as helping style bespoke floral arrangements

Remi Smith

Remi Smith is 12 years old and in 6th grade at North Polk Middle School. Remi will be showing bantams and standard breed chickens that she raised at the fair this past July. She loves spending time with her animals. She is a second year 4-H’er with the Elkhart Rising Sun’s Club where she participates in civic engagement, various life skill workshops and county fair projects. Some of her fair projects include sewing, photography, woodworking and showing her chickens and goats. Remi also enjoys playing softball, volleyball, reading books and camping. Remi lives with her mom, dad and two younger sisters on a small acreage near Polk City. You can follow along with Remi at HER Acres on Facebook.

Erin Dougherty

Erin is a floral designer who comes to us from Northern California. She earned her certification in floral design from the New York Institute of Art + Design and has extensive experience in advanced floristry for weddings + special events.

Prior to coming back to her Iowa roots, she was the owner of Larkspur Lavender Farm in California for nearly 10 years. Erin is also the Executive Administrator, and co-owner alongside her husband, of California-based Pancro Inc., a cinematography business with locations on the West Coast and Des Moines. Erin is passionate about gardening, home design, the outdoors, and most importantly, her family.

HER ACRES

As a family of five living in Central Iowa on our small acreage, we love our animals & enjoy spending our time with them all. Our animal family includes horses, chickens, and most recently, Boer goats. Our three girls have a sweet spot for their goats. Not only have they started showing this year, but they have also decided to raise a few show quality goats of their own. Follow along to keep up on our adventures. We promise to share all the cute baby goat photos & videos, and don't be surprised to see a few cameos by our chickens & horses. CLICK HERE to visit our Facebook Page

2026 Speakers & Celebrities