Exhort, Encourage, Equip
UTCH is excited to bring you the 2026 UTCH Convention — a gathering created to equip, encourage, and connect families at every stage of the homeschooling journey. This year’s theme is around 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12: “just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and equipping each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”
In a world where so much life happens through screens, face-to-face connection becomes more vital than ever. The Utah Homeschool Convention 2026 is our chance to gather as friends and neighbors, stand shoulder to shoulder, and celebrate the freedom we share as homeschoolers. Families from across the state will come together for an unforgettable weekend of inspiring keynote speakers, a lively vendor hall, practical workshops, and engaging activities for kids and teens. Whether you’re just beginning or guiding high schoolers toward college and careers, you’ll find the encouragement, tools, and community you need. Together, we’ll honor Utah’s homeschooling heritage, strengthen one another for the road ahead, and reaffirm our God-given responsibility to educate our children with confidence.
This is an event you don’t want to miss!
Meet the 2026 Keynote Speakers
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Vice President of Parenting and Youth, Focus on the Family
Dr. Huerta oversees Focus on the Family's initiatives that equip mothers and fathers with biblical and research based principles and guidance for raising healthy, resilient children rooted in a thriving faith in Christ.
Dr. Huerta is a bilingual psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, author of 7 Traits of Effective Parenting, and co-author of Focus on the Family’s “Age and Stage” resource, and various other resources. He is also the co-host and expert on the “Focus on Parenting” and the “Practice Makes Parent” podcasts. For many years, he has provided families with practical, biblically-based, and research- based parenting advice on key parenting topics. He has been interviewed by various media outlets including Fox News, Fatherly, Christianity Today, WORLD Magazine, The Christian Post and CBN, and regularly speaks on Christian radio stations and podcasts across the United States. He has also written for various publications and is a regular speaker at retreats, conventions, family camps, online events worldwide, and on various social media channels. Dr. Huerta has maintained a private practice serving families in Colorado Springs since 2003 and has also served families as an employee of Focus on the Family since 2004.
He and his wife, Heather, love the outdoors, have been married since 1997, and love spending time with their two adult children.
UTCH is excited to welcome Dr. Huerta as our 2026 Convention Keynote Speaker!
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Curriculum Specialist, Answers in Genesis
Bryan Osborne from Answers in Genesis is passionate about reaching the lost with the gospel! As an expert in the use of exciting, apologetics-based evangelism and chronological Bible teaching, this former athlete connects with audiences through real-life stories and facts that confirm the truth of the Bible.
After graduating from Bryan College with a bachelor of arts in biblical studies and minors in Greek and Christian education, Bryan earned his master’s degree in education from Lee University. For 13 years he boldly and enthusiastically taught Bible history in a public school system in Tennessee, and for 20 years he has helped youth and young adults in the local church to know and defend their faith. Bryan’s giftedness as a communicator and his passion for revealing the truth of God’s Word are obvious and contagious!
He now speaks at conferences and in churches for Answers in Genesis and has written for a blog designed to help parents and ministry leaders solve the growing epidemic of biblical illiteracy through the use of specially designed resources such as AiG’s Answers Bible Curriculum. Bryan is AiG's Curriculum Specialist and is responsible for the production of most of their newly-released homeschool curriculum.
You will love his practical, cutting-edge talks that reveal the importance of apologetics in equipping today’s youth and families in the body of Christ!
Bryan reports that he and his wife, Marla, have been blissfully married since 1998 and are enjoying the early years of child-rearing!
Featured Speakers
Colene Lewis
Author and Speaker, Cultivated Learning
Colene Lewis passionately inspires and equips parents and students to live cultivated lives of purpose, meaning, and learning. She homeschooled her daughters through high school in a home where learning was a joy and a way of life.
Carrie de Francisco
Author and Speaker, Coffee with Carrie
As a wife and retired homeschool mom, Carrie loves to help moms simplify their homeschooling one step at a time, one day at a time, and one cup of coffee at a time. She offers practical help and tips for homeschool moms at all levels!
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Children's Program and Nursery
Our children's program is for students from PreK-5th grade and nursery program is for ages 0-3. The children’s program will include lessons, games, crafts, memory time and much more! LEARN MORE
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Teen Program
Our teen program for 7th-12th graders will engage youth in variety of ways. LEARN MORE
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Lodging
Travelling for convention? Take advantage of discounted rates available at local hotels for convention.
Be a part of convention
Interested in being an exhibitor or sponsor for the 2026 UTCH Convention? Click on the relevant button below to get more info!
Sponsors
A BIG Thank You to the 2026 UTCH Convention Sponsors! Click on their logos to learn more about them.
