Our Advisors

At Haven Acres, we’re committed to doing things the right way for the health of our families, our land, and future generations.  The vision for our farm was deeply inspired by the work of our advisors, including Joel Salatin, Dr. Liz Haney, and Jim Gerrish, whose leadership in regenerative agriculture helped shape our understanding of what’s possible when farming works with nature instead of against it. Since then, our team has completed extensive in-person training and we’ve contracted them for ongoing consulting to ensure we’re staying true to those principles. With their continued guidance, we’re building a farm that produces exceptional food, restores the land, and serves as a living model of regenerative stewardship.
Joel Salatin photo, advisor to Haven Acres Regenerative Farmstead in Iowa

Joel Salatin

Joel Salatin is one of the most respected voices in regenerative agriculture. Through his family’s Polyface Farm in Virginia, he has helped shape a global movement toward ecologically sound, pasture-based farming. Often called the “Most Famous Farmer in the World,” Joel is known for his bold ideas, bestselling books (You Can Farm, The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Lunatic Farmer), and appearances in Food, Inc. and The Omnivore’s Dilemma. He has also received the prestigious Heinz Award for the Environment and continues to influence farmers and food advocates around the world.

Our team has completed Joel's intensive, in-person training workshops at Polyface Farms in Swoope, Virginia multiple times, gaining practical, hands-on insight into the systems that make Joel’s model so successful. He has also visited Haven Acres in person to meet our family, consult with our farm team, and see what makes our land so special. We were proud to hear that he was envious of our rich, immaculate Iowa soil.

Joel’s ongoing mentorship helps ensure that Haven Acres stays rooted in regenerative practices that heal the land, nourish people, and build resilient communities.

 Joel's Visit to Our Farm Blog Posts With Joel Our Training at Polyface Farms Visit the Polyface Farms Website

Dr. Liz Haney

Dr. Liz Haney is a soil health scientist and co-founder of Soil Regen, where she helps farms adopt regenerative practices through data, education, and boots-on-the-ground support. With a Ph.D. in soil science and extensive experience in both research and consulting, she bridges the gap between science and real-world application.

Dr. Haney is also a co-creator of the Haney Soil Test, a leading tool used to measure biological soil activity and guide regenerative decisions.

As a consultant and mentor to our farm, Liz has worked closely with our team to assess and improve soil health from the ground up. Under her guidance and through Soil Regen’s rigorous standards, Haven Acres has earned both the Verified Regenerative™ and Regeneratively Grown™ certifications, recognizing our commitment to ecological health, transparency, and soil-first farming.

 Learn About Our Regenerative Verified™ Certification Blog Posts with Dr. Liz Visit Soil Regen's Website

Jim Gerrish

Jim Gerrish is a nationally recognized expert in adaptive grazing and pasture-based livestock systems. With over 40 years of experience in both research and hands-on ranching, Jim has helped thousands of farmers and ranchers improve soil health, forage productivity, and animal performance through rotational grazing.

Formerly a researcher at the University of Missouri’s Forage Systems Research Center, Jim now operates American GrazingLands Services LLC, providing on-farm consulting and education across North America and beyond. He and his wife also manage a working ranch in Idaho using the same regenerative principles he teaches.

Our team has trained with Jim in person and continues to draw from his deep practical knowledge to design grazing systems that support healthy animals, resilient soil, and vibrant ecosystems.

 Our Team's Training with Jim Blog Posts With Jim Visit the American GrazingLands Services LLC Website