Shade Haven Shines at Acres USA Event
Event offers glimpse into vision of Acres’ new owner, Taylor Henry Acres USA boasts “The Voice of Eco Agriculture”, a claim that aligns with the views and mission of Shade Haven. On July 15, Shade Haven participated in the Acres USA On-Farm Intensive in Viroqua, Wisconsin, at the farm of Acres’ new owner/CEO Taylor Henry. More than […]
Event offers glimpse into vision of Acres’ new owner, Taylor Henry
Acres USA boasts “The Voice of Eco Agriculture”, a claim that aligns with the views and mission of Shade Haven. On July 15, Shade Haven participated in the Acres USA On-Farm Intensive in Viroqua, Wisconsin, at the farm of Acres’ new owner/CEO Taylor Henry.
More than 100 attendees left the day-long event armed with knowledge, techniques and inspiration to maximize production and sustainability on their own farms. Equipment Utilization was one of the topics covered at the event. Shade Haven owner Vince Hundt demonstrated the benefits of the Shade Haven mobile shade system as a grazing tool that keeps livestock healthy and productive through the hottest days of summer.
“The Shade Haven is definitely made for graziers,” noted Henry. “It is a pretty powerful tool – especially when you are moving multiple times a day, and you have paddocks without shade.”
Henry supported Hundt’s assertion that farms with a Shade Haven in their pasture are making a statement about the type of agriculture and grazing practices they embrace.
Other notable presenters at the event included Mark Shepard, Gary Zimmer and Jim Munsch. Henry plans to host the event again in 2025. “In the past, Acres held the summer conference in California. This was a test run to see if we can rebrand that conference and bring it to Viroqua on an annual basis.”
Taking the reigns
Acres USA is a 50-year-old institution committed to providing content through its magazine, books and events that enables farmers to be more sustainable and profitable. Henry took ownership of Acres USA in December 2023, pledging to carry on the vision of its founder Charles Walters.
With roots in Viroqua, Henry purchased a 200-acre farm in 2020 after “getting bit by the regenerative agriculture bug.” Inspired by experts in the regenerative movement, Henry was excited to discover one of his most-read authors, grazing expert Mark Shepard, lived just 25 minutes away. “I knocked on his door, and we have been working together ever since,” says Henry.
After acquiring Acres USA, Henry moved the headquarters from Colorado to Viroqua. He plans to centralize the magazine, book sales and many future events in the same area.
Acres USA 49th Annual Eco Ag Conference will take place in Wisconsin for the first time, December 2-5, in nearby Madison. Henry expects the event to draw hundreds of farmers due to an impressive lineup of speakers, including Gabe Brown, Allen Williams, John Kempf, Joel Salatin, Mark Shephard and Gary Zimmer. “We will be announcing more speakers soon,” added Henry. “We are super excited about that event.”
While continuing Acre’s legacy as a valuable resource for farmers, Henry has modernized its offerings by digitizing content and offering audio books and online material. Readers of Acres USA magazine may also notice a larger focus on livestock and grazing, reflecting Henry’s personal interest in the subject.
Shade Haven is happy to welcome this like-minded venture to its home base in Viroqua, Wisconsin. We look forward to being the Shade experts at Acres USA events in the future.
