With a lot of prayer and Godly counsel the first Fellowship on the Farm event happened on June 3, 2023 in the newly built barn that had been spared and protected through an outpouring of prayer during the 702 Fire that had swept the area the spring before. Fellowship on the Farm began the way many good things do—quiet and unassuming, with a handful of women, a shared table, and hearts open to whatever the Lord might do. It was the summer of 2023 when a few friends gathered in a barn, drawn together by a longing for something simple and true: honest fellowship, faith-filled testimony, gentle encouragement, and worship that rose up as naturally as birdsong at daybreak.

That first Saturday in June didn’t look like much by the world’s standards. There were no grand stages or polished programs—just a few chairs set up in the barn, a meal shared on the lawn among the flower and chickens, on tables lined with homemade dishes, and the steady hum of women greeting one another like long-lost sisters. But the Spirit moved in that smallness. Stories were shared—some tender, some triumphant—and each one seemed to stitch hearts a little closer together. Laughter rang out across the yard, mingling with tears that fell freely and without shame. And when voices lifted in worship, it felt as though heaven itself leaned in to listen.

Word of that day traveled the way good news often does—passed from porch to porch, kitchen to kitchen, carried in quiet conversations and heartfelt invitations. By the time the next June rolled around, more women came. Then more the year after that. What started as a modest gathering has grown into something that fills the homestead with a great and joyful crowd, yet it has never lost the warmth of its beginnings.

Each first Saturday of June, rain or shine, Fellowship on the Farm opens its gates wide. Women come from near and far, some weary, some hopeful, all welcome. There’s a sacred rhythm to the day now—one that feels both well-loved and freshly given. Testimonies are still the heartbeat of it all, brave and beautiful accounts of God’s faithfulness through every season of life. Encouragement is spoken like seed scattered on good soil, landing where it’s needed most. And worship rises again each year, steady and sure, carried on voices that may not be perfect but are full of truth.

“There was so much that went into that first year. We were literally starting from scratch. I knew I couldn’t and shouldn’t do it by myself so I sought out a few of my closest Sisters in Christ who I knew would come along beside me in prayer and counsel. I also asked them to consider helping me with the event operations. Before I knew it I had a Women’s Counsel that has become so very special to me. Without them my head would constantly be spinning and there is no way the event day would run as smoothly as it does. Now that we have a few events under our belts it all runs like a well oiled machine. Everyone just does their thing and they all do it so well.” ~ Abbie J. Benson | Founder

There’s something about gathering on the land that reminds folks of what matters. The open sky, the honest work of the farm, the unhurried pace—it all seems to make room for the Lord to move in a way that feels close and personal. Women leave with lighter burdens, fuller hearts, and a sense that they are not alone in their walk.

Fellowship on the Farm isn’t just an event—it’s become a homecoming of sorts. A place where faith is shared plainly, where friendships take root deep and lasting, and where the goodness of God is seen in both the quiet moments and the grand ones. And though it has grown beyond what anyone first imagined, it still carries that same humble spirit from 2023—a reminder that even the smallest gatherings, when placed in God’s hands, can flourish into something truly abundant.