Candace Johnson

I'm Candace, the creator behind The Sonner Stead, a small homestead in Washington where my husband and I are building a life centered around raising our own food, caring for our animals, stewarding the land, and continually learning new skills.

Although homesteading became a passion later in life, my roots have always been in this way of life. I grew up in rural Washington raising horses and competing in rodeo, where I developed a deep appreciation for hard work, agriculture, and the outdoors. Farming has been woven into my family's story for generations. I come from five generations of small wheat farmers whose farms are still operating today in eastern Washington and Idaho, and both sides of my grandparents were raised on homesteads as children. In many ways, building our own homestead feels like honoring that legacy while creating one of our own.

Before becoming a full time homesteader, I proudly served in the U.S. Army. Like many veterans, transitioning back to civilian life came with its own challenges. Homesteading became far more than a hobby for me. Working the land, caring for animals, growing food, and preserving the harvest brought a sense of purpose, peace, and healing that I never expected. It reminded me that some of life's greatest rewards come through patience, hard work, and caring for something bigger than yourself.

Today, you'll usually find me in the garden, caring for our family dairy cow, Luna, and our goats, processing our homegrown poultry, preserving the harvest, or learning a new skill that helps us become a little more self sufficient. No two days look exactly the same, and that's one of the things I love most about this lifestyle. I don't believe self sufficiency means doing everything on your own. I believe it's about learning, growing, and becoming a little more capable each day.

One of the things I'm most passionate about is making these skills accessible to everyone. Our country was built by people who knew how to grow food, preserve the harvest, raise livestock, and care for their families. Over the generations, many of those skills have faded, and my goal is to help bring them back by showing that anyone can start, regardless of where they live or how much experience they have. Whether it's planting a small garden, learning to can, raising a few backyard chickens, or simply understanding where your food comes from, every step matters.

Community is at the heart of everything I do. Some of the greatest lessons I've learned have come from people willing to share their knowledge, encourage me through mistakes, and celebrate the wins along the way. At The Sonner Stead, I hope to do the same by creating a place where people feel welcomed, supported, and inspired to begin their own journey toward a more intentional and self sufficient life.

Through every success, every mistake, and every lesson learned, my goal is simple: to encourage others to embrace the learning process, reconnect with where their food comes from, and discover the same sense of purpose, fulfillment, and community that homesteading has given me.