Hands-On Field Day
The application of regenerative agriculture principles can seem complicated when applying them across multiple enterprises on one small farm. Join Understanding Ag consultants John Hays and Adam Taylor to learn how principles of soil health, rules of adaptive stewardship, and an understanding of ecosystem processes can be applied to farms of any size in any production context. Hear an in depth discussion of how regenerative agriculture can transform the farm ecosystem, and then see it in action on a small diversified farm.
Saturday, May 30th at 8:30 AM
What You’ll Learn
Participants will gain practical insight into:
Core principles of regenerative agriculture and how they apply to real farms
How to improve soil health using adaptive stewardship and ecosystem processes
Practical ways to integrate regenerative practices across multiple enterprises
Insights from experienced consultants on building resilient, profitable systems
A look at a diversified regenerative farm in action
How to apply what you learn to your own operation, regardless of size or context
The event also provides opportunities to network with farmers and members of the regenerative agriculture community.
Register for this event!
May 30th, 2026 | New Castle, VA
What You’ll Learn
Participants will gain practical insight into:
Building soil health through organic management
Using diverse cover crop systems
Integrating biological principles into crop production
Transitioning to Organic Production
Lessons from real-world organic farming experience
Practical strategies you can apply to your own operation
The event also provides opportunities to network with farmers and members of the organic agriculture community.
Event Speakers
John Hays
John Hays is a fifth-generation farmer in west-central Indiana with over 40 years of experience, farming alongside his wife Jenny and their family. Raised with a deep appreciation for soil health and influenced by generations of organic farmers, he built a diverse agricultural career spanning dairy, livestock, and commercial swine production, where he played a key role in advancing artificial insemination practices across the Midwest. After years in large-scale production and business leadership, John shifted his focus to regenerative agriculture, converting his operation to perennial pasture and implementing adaptive grazing systems for multiple species. Today, through Hays Family Farm, he markets grass-fed and pasture-raised meats directly to consumers while working with other producers to improve soil health, reduce inputs, and build resilient, profitable operations.
Adam Taylor
Adam Taylor is a regenerative practitioner and educator from southwest Virginia, whose passion for sustainable farming began on his family’s homestead and was further shaped through his studies in environmental science at Emory & Henry University. His early experience included working alongside Steven Hopp and Barbara Kingsolver on diversified organic farms. Adam later served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia, promoting conservation agriculture and agroforestry, and earned a Master of Agriculture from Oklahoma State University. He has worked extensively in nonprofit agricultural development and spent nearly a decade managing Virginia Tech’s Catawba Sustainability Center, where he advanced agroforestry and regenerative grazing systems. In 2017, he co-founded Singing Spring Farm with his wife Elizabeth, a diversified regenerative operation producing a wide range of foods for direct-to-consumer markets.
About THe Venue
2nd Star Farm - Classroom Session
4962 Little Mountain Rd, New Castle, VA 24127
About THe Venue
Singing Spring Farm - Field Session
241 Paitsel Place, New Castle, VA 24127
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
About 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.
Workshop Schedule
Date: May 30, 2026
Time: 8:00 - 12:00 - Classroom Session (2nd Star Farm, 4962 Little Mountain Rd, New Castle, VA 24127)
1:00 - 4:30 - Field Session (Singing Spring Farm - 241 Paitsel Place, New Castle, VA 24127)
8:00 - 8:30 - Registration
8:30 - 9:00 - Introductions - What are you hoping to learn today?
9:00 - 12:00 - Principles of Regenerative Agriculture - John Hays
12:00 - 1:00 - LUNCH
1:15 - 1:30 - Travel to Singing Spring Farm
1:30 - 2:00 - Singing Spring Farm Overview - Adam Taylor
2:00 - 4:00 - Field Session
4:30 - Closing
Copyright © 2026. All Rights Reserved.
But don’t just listen to us, here’s what past attendees have said!
To learn about the 2023 Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show, read the recap here.
Program
The Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show is filled with engaging keynote speakers, 1- to 2-hour breakout sessions in regenerative agriculture topics ranging from soil health – including making the most of the microbiome, composting, cover cropping and more, to farm management to livestock and beyond.
Stay tuned for our agenda as these sessions come online.
Eco-Ag U
Get the most out of your experience by signing up for an Eco-Ag U workshop (or two!) – the registration fee includes your choice of pre-conference workshops plus the entire conference and trade show. Spend a full day with an instructor diving deep into a topic that’s important to you.
You will have direct, small-classroom access to the top minds in eco-agriculture, where you can learn the real details behind their success, and ask questions specific to your farm or operation.
Trade Show
Complement your education with learning at our trade show, bustling with innovative products and services in every specialty that will help you launch your operation to the next level in regenerative agriculture.
Our trade show also includes innovation presentations and demonstrations and complimentary coffee.
Want to become a sponsor or exhibit in the trade show? Visit our Trade Show page to learn more!
Past Speakers
Tony Robbins
Dan Kennedy
Jocko Willink
Jaime Kern Lima
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
Prince EA
Myron Golden
Kiana Daniel
Eileen Wilder
Stay Informed
If you would like to stay informed about our annual events, including the Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show, sign up for our News & Announcements email newsletter.
General Terms
Event registration prices include all service fees.
By registering for the AcresUSA Eco-Ag Conference and Trade Show, you agree to receive email updates from the event producers and partners
This transaction will appear on your credit card statement under AcresUSA Eco-Ag Conference and Trade Show
Acres USA will never sell your data to third parties. Please be aware of phishing scams that claim to be selling a list of our attendees.
Refund Policy
What if I have to cancel?
Sorry, no refunds.** Your registration can be transferred to someone else’s name if you cannot attend; please contact our office.
For Eco-Ag U all-day workshops: Due to limited space, cancellations received through November 1st, 2024 are entitled to an 80% credit to be applied to AcresUSA subscriptions, books, DVDs, audio CDs, or future conference fees.
Item Transfer Policy
Can I transfer my registration if I can’t make it?
Yes. You can transfer your registration up to the day before event by calling Rebecca Gerwig at the AcresUSA office at 970-392-4464 or by emailing [email protected].