Feature Family

Meet the Barberg Family

Tim and Abby Barberg are blessed with six children ranging in age from 10th grade all the way down to a beaming fifteen-month-old. Their lives are full of the hustle and bustle of living in the country, having a plentiful garden and raising chickens, and tending their small businesses. Spending time outdoors together camping, hunting, and hiking are some of their favorite things to do. Tim has a tree work and prairie restoration business called Maximized Habitats. Abby wears several hats including, but not limited to, owning a bulk produce distribution company called Victory Produce, being a Paper Pie representative, and running our very own Venture School in Dassel/Cokato, Minnesota. 

As a working mom, Abby not only embraces that role but also the work ethic that it shows is contagious to her children. When Abby has her fruit pick up days, you will be hard pressed not to find her children having a stand of their own where they sell their wares. The kids like to sell everything from canvas and rock paintings to knit and crochet pieces. Abby notes that it isn’t much, but what they do sell is rewarding, and every little sale adds up. 

Their family has always homeschooled. According to Abby, “There is so much more to know and learn than could ever be taught in a classroom! I love being able to live life and teach as we go. We call it Lifeschooling.” The Barberg family has been with Venture Upward from the beginning in Minnesota. According to Abby, “There is so much grace and heart behind the people at Venture. That is what drew me in.The teachers are amazing, and they truly work with you and want your best.”  Abby also mentioned that Venture is a beautiful program that gives her family the flexibility to do all the other learning they want while making sure they have the accountability to get the core subjects in. The subscription boxes that they receive with their Venture Reward and Venture School adds even more layers to their education that they wouldn’t have gotten outside of being with Venture Upward.  

Abby brought up more than once that she loves community. The Venture Upward community gives her family “a safety net, a support system, amazing field trips and resources, and a community to live life with.” The Barberg family is certainly living life and loving to learn all about it!