Customer Spotlight: Feather River College

College Ag Department Gives Mobile Shade High Marks 

Set in a forested landscape in northwestern California, Feather River College (FRC) has a hands-on approach to agriculture education—where students learn by doing, not just observing. With robust programs in beef production, equine studies and rodeo, the college manages a significant number of livestock across multiple facilities. Two years ago, FRC invested in a Shade Haven mobile shade system to support its beef program.

“Providing shade is so important,” says agriculture department founder Russell Reid. “We have a lot of areas with natural shade, but for those paddocks without shade, we needed something that was easy to move”.

For Reid and his team, shade is essential to animal welfare and performance. “All livestock benefit from shade,” Reid adds.

Livestock on Campus
The FRC campus in Quincy, California, serves about 1,500 students. Its agriculture program began in 1980 with a focus on horses, mules and packing. Since then, it has evolved into a comprehensive agricultural program, featuring modern horse facilities, indoor/outdoor arenas, breeding facilities, student boarding stalls, an intercollegiate rodeo arena and practice facilities. Its beef facility sits on about 100 acres, with dedicated acreage for hay and pasture production.

Students in both the beef and equine programs participate in every stage of livestock management, from artificial insemination and pasture breeding to calving, grazing, and eventually selling bulls and horses at local sales. Students and staff care for roughly 100 registered Angus beef and program horses. Additionally, many students, particularly the rodeo students, board multiple horses on campus grounds.

Grazing with Shade
FRC rotationally grazes livestock through small paddocks enclosed with primarily electric fencing. The Shade Haven moves with groups of 15 to 20 beef cattle through paddocks that lack natural shade.

Mobility has proven to be the greatest advantage of the Shade Haven SH1200. The ability to quickly reposition the shade allows the college to maintain an efficient grazing strategy with limited staff and equipment, while also protecting livestock and boosting pasture health.

“Shade Haven is one of the few, if not the only, truly movable shade options,” says Reid. “We can’t spend all day trying to move a large piece of equipment. That is the real benefit of the Shade Haven. It can be moved quickly.”

After two full grazing seasons, the value is clear. The Shade Haven not only improves animal comfort but also supports better land stewardship—something that aligns closely with the college’s teaching mission. Students see firsthand how thoughtful management decisions impact both productivity and sustainability.

“The Shade Haven fits our program very well,” Reid says. “Given the resources, we’d absolutely add another one.”

Professor Russell Reid founded Feather River College’s Ag Dept in 1980. Although recently retired from teaching, he continues to serve as Ag department chair.  He also runs a family Cattle and Hay Ranch in American Valley along with two seasonal packing and trail ride stables in the High Sierras.