August 6th, 2025 | 9:00AM to 4:00PM | Acadian Family Farm | 23149 CS 2560, Fort Cobb, Oklahoma 73038
Acres U.S.A. Intro to Organic Agriculture Field Day - Oklahoma (FREE EVENT)
Tickets and Registration are
NOW LIVE
Join Us August 6th at Acadian Family Farm for an Organic Transition Field Day
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Acadian Family Farm – More about the farm
Introducing the 2025 Acres U.S.A. On-Farm Intensive at Acadian Family Farm in western Oklahoma. The organic market continues to grow—now a $55 billion industry in the U.S.—and there are more opportunities than ever for producers ready to transition.
Whether you're just beginning the transition to organic or already in the process, this field day is designed to equip you with the practical tools, resources, and connections to succeed. Hosted by Rod Ardoin and his family at Acadian Family Farm—known for their organic sweet potatoes and deep commitment to faith, soil stewardship, and family farming—this day offers insight into what it takes to thrive as an organic producer.
What to Expect:
Guided field walks with farmers and mentors
Practical sessions on soil health, organic agronomy, and testing
Workshops on recordkeeping, organic certification, and conservation planning
Business strategy insights including marketing and funding opportunities
Lunch and networking with experienced organic mentors
This event is free to attend, but registration is required due to limited space. Please only register if you plan to attend.
Brought to you by Acres U.S.A., in partnership with OCIA and the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP)—part of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative.
Join us at the Acres U.S.A. On-Farm Intensive and embark on a journey towards regenerative success for your operation.
ACRES Field Day Details
📅 Wednesday, August 6th, 2025
🕘 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍23149 CS 2560, Fort Cobb, Oklahoma 73038
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. - Check-in & Welcome Coffee - Meet the hosts and connect with fellow attendees.
9:00 - 9:15 - Welcome from Acres U.S.A.
9:15 – 10:15 a.m. - Tyler Mason - Oklahoma State
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. - Joel Hollingsworth - Smoke River Ranch
11:30 – 12:30 p.m. - Lunch Provided
12:45 – 1:30 p.m. - Taylor Henry - Acres U.S.A.
1:45 – 2:30 p.m. - Rod Ardoin - Acadian Family Farms
2:30 – 4:00 p.m. - Field Walk at Acadian Family Farm
Tour crop fields, equipment, and infrastructure with Rod Ardoin. Learn firsthand how Acadian Family Farm integrates organic practices, weed management, and faith-based stewardship into their operation.
Event Speakers
Rod Ardoin
Acadian Family Farm is nestled in Caddo County, near Fort Cobb, Oklahoma, and proudly owned and operated by Rod Ardoin. Our 80 acres are Certified Organic through the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry (ODAFF). Specializing in Sweet Potatoes, we grow three varieties: Traditional Orange, Japanese Murasaki, and Red Gourmet. With over 30 years of farming experience, we only sell what we grow, ensuring top quality from field to table.
So, what is an “Acadian”? The Acadians were 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia, Canada. Over time, they resettled in what is now known as Acadiana, Louisiana, where they became known for their small, self-sufficient farms —a tradition we proudly carry forward.
Originally from southwest Louisiana and of French descent, farming runs deep in our heritage. As Rod often says, “It’s in my blood.” Our passion is simple: to provide our customers with healthy, delicious vegetables grown with care and dedication.
Joel Hollingsworth
Joel Hollingsworth is the owner and operator of Smoke River Ranch, a regenerative cattle operation in northeast Oklahoma focused on soil health, ecological restoration, and community-supported agriculture. At Smoke River Ranch, Joel implements adaptive high-density grazing, holistic herd-share models, and low-input management systems that prioritize both environmental and economic sustainability.
With a background in innovative ranching practices, Joel has become a respected voice in the regenerative agriculture community. His work blends traditional livestock management with forward-thinking approaches that restore degraded land, build soil biology, and produce nutrient-dense food for local markets.
Joel’s leadership at Smoke River Ranch reflects a deep commitment to stewardship, transparency, and a vision for a ranching future that regenerates landscapes while supporting strong rural economies.
Tyler Mason
Vegetable extension and research specialist evaluating crop inputs, genotypes, and production practices across the spectrum of vegetable production systems including conventional, sustainable, and organic.
Oklahoma Speakers
Gary Zimmer
Founder of Midwest Bio Ag
Author For Acres U.S.A. - "The Biological Farmer" & Advancing Biological Farming
Cover Crops and Biological Farming
Organic Corn Production
Rye!
Gary Zimmer is Founder of Midwestern BioAg.
Known as the “father” of biological agriculture, Zimmer is an internationally known author, speaker, and consultant. He owns Otter Creek Organic Farm, a family-operated, award-winning 1,000 acre farm near Lone Rock, WI, and has been on the board of Taliesin Preservation Inc. since 2011. Zimmer is the author of three books,
and numerous articles on soils and livestock nutrition.
Zimmer holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in Dairy Nutrition from the University of Hawaii.
Mark Shepard
Founder of Restoration Agriculture Development (RAD)
Author For Acres U.S.A. - "Restoration Agriculture" & "Water For Any Farm"
Water Management in The Driftless Region
Mark Shepard is the head of Restoration Agriculture Development and Forest Agriculture Nursery and the author of the award-winning book, Restoration Agriculture: Real-World Permaculture for Farmers
Based on his experiences at New Forest Farm in Viola, Wisconsin, the book reflects his belief in sustainably grown perennial food crops for the future.
New Forest Farm, once a worn-out row crop farm, is now a 106-acre commercial-scale perennial agricultural operation and one of the most ambitious sustainable agriculture projects in the U.S. Mark's innovations include runoff distribution, water retention, adaptive mass-selection breeding, and the integration of trees, shrubs, vines, and other plants to optimize efficiency. Primary crops include hazelnuts, chestnuts, walnuts, and apples.
Trained in mechanical engineering and ecology, Mark has developed equipment and processes for forest-derived agricultural products. He is a certified permaculture designer and teaches agroforestry and his innovative water management systems globally. Learn more about his keyline adaptations and water optimization techniques in his latest book,
Water for Any Farm.
Jim Munsch
Grass Fed Beef Economics
Consultant for Valley Stewardship Network
Jim studied Agricultural Engineering at Purdue as background to operating the Indiana farm that had been in the family since after the civil war.
When he was in his junior year, the farm was designated as part of a flood control project and sold to the government.
He stayed on at Purdue and got an MS in Management.
After service as an officer in the US Army in Europe, he took a job in the international department of a manufacturing company in western Wisconsin.
During employment with that company and one in Maryland, the family lived in Japan twice.
Mid-life found him hankering for a return to agriculture, so the family moved to Vernon County to ridge-top farm.
He became a part time beef producer while returning for a decade to a management position in the same company where he had worked previously.
He took early retirement and, while doing management consulting for small companies, direct marketing food producers, grazing farms, and the University of Wisconsin, he continued to raise cattle – currently producing grass-fed beef.
The family lives a mile away from the birthplace of government soil conservation: Coon Valley.
It completes a circle of Jim’s life.
In the 1940-50s, his part of the family in Indiana fully embraced soil conservation.
He was cultivating corn in strips on the contour and maneuvering around terraces before he had a driver’s license.
Saving soil is a North Star for him.
Taylor Henry
Real Estate Land Report
Grass Fed Beef, Pastured Pork and Pastured Poultry
Owner Of Acres U.S.A.
Owner of Henry Pastures
Taylor Henry is an Entrepreneur and Realtor in the Driftless Region. He acquired Acres U.S.A. in December '23.
He has a lifelong obsession with land, which he has turned into his career. He farms a 60-acre regenerative operation with cattle, hogs, chickens, and his two dogs, Bow and Remi. His farm, which includes an Airbnb, is an experimental blend of modern agriculture and recreational land management.
Mentored by Mark Shepard, Taylor has honed his expertise in land management. He founded "1080 Outdoors" to help landowners enhance their properties for recreational use. Taylor has provided consulting and management plans to numerous clients, both onsite and virtually.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Taylor served as a County Sheriff in La Crosse, Vernon, and Crawford Counties. His goal is to help like-minded individuals acquire and manage land, believing it is best preserved by conservationists, farmers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Taylor is known for his deep land knowledge and commitment to honesty, integrity, and client care.
Event Location
Event will be held at the Acres U.S.A. and Henry Pastures Headquarters. E6627 CTH XX, Viroqua, WI 54665
Marcus Lemonis
Kaelin Poulin
Garrett J. White
Alex & Leila Hormozi
Brooke Castillo
Perry Belcher
Ben Hardy
Dean Graziosi
Eric Thomas
Jenna Kutcher
Kristine Mirelle
Setema Gali
Myron Golden
Kiana Daniel
Eileen Wilder
Is This Event For me?
If you're a farmer striving to enhance your land's health and productivity through regenerative practices, this intensive is tailored just for you.
If you're a professional working on sustainable solutions this event is for you.
If you are a food enthusiast and want to know what goes into producing organic & regenerative food this is for you.
If you are a homesteader this if for you.
Any Landowners in the driftless region!
Kids are welcome! Kids under 18 are free.
What is Acres U.S.A.®?
Acres U.S.A. is North America’s oldest publisher on production-scale organic, ecological and regenerative farming. For more than 50 years, our mission has been to help farmers, ranchers, market gardeners and land owners grow food profitably and regeneratively
WE OFFER a full range of educational products — including books and pamphlets, a monthly magazine, webinars, podcasts, online courses and both large-venue and on-farm events — to help producers find timely, practical and well-tested knowledge and advice on just about any agricultural topic
Acres U.S.A. is committed to providing information about agricultural production systems that can regenerate the soil, support the farmer and rancher, and bring healthy, nutritious food to the consumer. We bring both new and time-tested voices to the discussion of “what is to be done” when it comes to building soil health, raising healthy animals and growing nutritious crops. We amplify the work of modern agricultural leaders and innovators, and we support all efforts to increase the resilience of our farms and ranches — and the people who anchor and feed our nation.
The books we sell, and the speakers at our events, and the editors of our monthly eNewsletter and farmer-facing website represent generations of experience in building — not mining — soils. The lessons they teach are fundamental: to farm economically, one must do so ecologically.
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