Last Friday, July 18, 2025, we had the joy of attending the 42nd Annual Arizona Home Education Convention (AFHE) at the Phoenix Convention Center. What a delight it was to reconnect with our incredible homeschooling community, explore innovative resources, and witness firsthand how much the convention has grown over the past few years.
Growth You Can Feel
Each year it seems AFHE outdoes itself—and this year was no exception:
The Exhibit Hall, now spanning even more space, was buzzing with energy early in the day. While AFHE recommends Friday for a less crowded experience, many vendors had already set up full displays and engaging workshops by the time we arrived. Several booths we’ve visited in past years have expanded to multi-table setups, and entirely new vendors have joined—offering fresh curriculum lines, enrichment programs, and creative learning materials. Exhibitor workshops and Kids’ Corner presentations were operating at full throttle, adding a dynamic layer of interactive learning right inside the hall.
It’s clear that AFHE’s reach and appeal are expanding, drawing both long-standing vendors and newcomers eager to serve Arizona’s homeschooling families.
A Disney Legend and a Kingdom Mission
One of the most inspiring highlights of our visit was getting to meet Davy Liu, a former top character designer at Disney. He worked on some of the studio’s most iconic films, including The Lion King, Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. Today, Davy has taken his talent in a new direction—creating a beautiful line of Christian children’s books and animated films through his ministry, Kendu Films. It was a blessing to hear his story and see how he’s using his gifts to share faith-based values with a new generation.
🛳️ The Ark Encounter Booth: A Glimpse Into Biblical History
Another exciting surprise was seeing a booth representing The Ark Encounter, a life-sized Noah’s Ark exhibit based in Kentucky. The display offered a peek into what visitors can experience at the full-scale Ark attraction — including its biblical exhibits, educational programming, and museum-quality craftsmanship. It was such a fun and faith-affirming addition to the vendor floor, especially for families planning future educational trips.
More ESA‑Accepting Vendors Than Ever
Another encouraging trend this year was the increased presence of vendors accepting Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) funds. That was something to celebrate!
The Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) is a state-run education savings program in Arizona. It allows parents to use public funding for private or home-based education expenses, including curriculum, tutors, classes, and more. ESA families often pursue parent-directed learning similar to traditional homeschooling.
At AFHE, many vendors clearly displayed signs indicating they accept ESA payments. This made shopping and planning so much easier for families using ESA—and was a great reminder of how far things have come in recent years.
Our Takeaways
We saw familiar vendors growing stronger and new ones offering fresh tools. ESA-friendly signage made it simple for families to connect with approved resources. Meeting Davy Liu was a special and unexpected gift—his story was both moving and motivating. The Ark Encounter booth reminded us that learning can extend well beyond textbooks. The sense of community, faith, and freedom in education continues to thrive.
Final Thoughts
Our return to AFHE this year was both nostalgic and invigorating. The convention is clearly evolving in all the right ways—welcoming new families, embracing the needs of ESA users, and offering unique opportunities for faith-based enrichment.
If you attended this year’s convention, we’d love to hear what inspired you the most — whether it was a favorite booth, a powerful speaker, or simply the joy of being surrounded by like-minded families. And if you haven’t been yet, go ahead and mark your calendar now! The AFHE Homeschool Convention is held every July at the Phoenix Convention Center, and tickets typically go on sale in April, with great early bird pricing available.
Be prepared to shop, connect, and leave refreshed. This isn’t just an event — it’s a powerful celebration of what’s possible when parents take the lead in their children’s education.
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