Accent east 2026

 The FAM will begin in Shipshewana at 8:30am. Transportation from South Bend will be included this morning. Join your local guide for a hands-on Amish Country experience. Meet Loren, leather artisan and craftsman, in his workshop as he demonstrates turning his craft into exquisite leather items. Then browse and shop in his beautiful store from hundreds of leather items such as belts, wallets, handbags, backpacks and more. Next, explore the Menno-Hof Cultural Center. Here you will learn about how Shipshewana/LaGrange County became the third largest settlement in the United States. This is a multi-media, guided and self-guided tour of several experience rooms unique to this settlement. Roll your own pretzel at Ben’s Soft Pretzels and hear Ben’s story how he and his wife developed this thriving franchise of over 150 locations in the US and internationally. Then for lunch, enjoy your own delicious baked soft pretzel and sauce along with a ‘pretzel-wich’, a crisp green salad and beverage. Visit an Amish buggy shop and visit Carolyn’s No Sugar Added Jams and Jellies shop where you will meet Amish widow making her living from her delicious selection of jams, jellies and salsas made in her large kitchen. You will taste samples and purchase a few for the road! There will be time to shop before dinner and the famous annual Shipshewana Christmas Parade.  

Meals: L, D

   Start the day with a hot breakfast buffet before departing Shipshewana for South Bend. Take a walking tour of the University of Notre Dame, seeing landmarks like the Golden Dome, Basilica, Grotto, and “Touchdown Jesus.” Lunch is included before experiencing over a century on wheels touring the Studebaker National Museum, from the Studebaker family’s c. 1835 Conestoga Wagon to the last car to roll off the Studebaker assembly line in 1966. Learn how the world-famous Studebaker Corporation made the transition from being one of the foremost wagon makers to crafting the automobiles of the modern era — the only company to do so successfully.  After, explore the historic Oliver Mansion at The History Museum.  Also known as Copshaholm. The mansion's exhibits paint a vivid picture of the St. Joseph River Valley Region — from prehistory, to settlement, to the rise of industry with stops along the way. Check into the Four Winds Resort and Casino before enjoying an included dinner.  

Meals: B, L, D

Enjoy breakfast at the Hotel.  Volunteer at Cultivate Food Rescue - no neighbor hungry, no food wasted. This is the vision at Cultivate Food Rescue. We work to reduce hunger and food waste in northern Indiana by recovering excess, quality food and redistributing it to school children, food pantries, shelters, and more. The most common type of volunteering at Cultivate is packing meals. Some of these meals go to food banks and homeless shelters while others are packed into backpacks for some of the most vulnerable kids at our local elementary schools. Lunch is included at South Bend Public House. Known for their upside-down burger, you can find a variety of wraps, soups, salads and more at the large group friendly restaurant. This afternoon, tour the South Bend Chocolate Factory and the Indiana Dinosaur Museum. South Bend Chocolate Factory tour guests are treated to a history lesson of chocolate and its origins, as a guide leads guests through all the factory processes, including panning, enrobing and more, including a test sample at the end. For an extra special treat, you'll make your own box of chocolate and walk through the Chocolate Museum. Indiana Dinosaur Museum tours have you wander through real and lifelike exhibits that bring these colossal creatures back to life and showcase meticulously crafted replicas and interactive displays.

Meals: B, L, Reception

5:00pm Conference begins! Gather together for a Welcome Reception with all delegates.