About Us
Walnut Hollow was founded in 1972 by Dave Ladd when he had an idea after watching his wife, Nancy, create unique découpage projects from crosscut pieces of wood taken from the family tree farm. This idea sparked the creation of Walnut Hollow’s first product line, Walnut Country Rounds®.
Since then, Walnut Hollow has grown from a small, family-owned business in Dodgeville, WI to an internationally renowned wood manufacturer. Walnut Hollow became a leader in the craft and hobby industry and well known for a wide array of best-selling programs such as Creative Woodburning®, clock making, wood carving, wood surfaces, signboards and award-winning hot tools and accessories.
In 2009, another Ladd family hobby inspired a new, exciting direction for our company. Like his mother’s interest in arts and crafts, Chris Ladd saw a unique opportunity inspired by his own personal interests in the outdoors, hunting, fishing and taxidermy.
At that time, Walnut Hollow had almost four decades of experience in manufacturing and distributing top-of-the-line, quality wood products. Due to this expertise, Walnut Hollow was uniquely positioned to offer a truly exceptional line of taxidermy products. With that, Walnut Hollow Country was born.
Walnut Hollow County offers affordable, high–quality taxidermy plaques, panels, bases and display kits in a variety of sizes and styles. In addition, Walnut Hollow Country offers innovative tools and accessories designed specifically with taxidermists in mind.
Made in the USA and manufactured from furniture grade lumber, our solid wood taxidermy items are sealed and finished with a superior grade satin lacquer that adds a rich, warm luster to the natural grain. State of the art technology and an experienced production team ensure accurate, precise and consistent quality from start to finish at a price that you can afford. All orders are carefully handled, securely packaged and individually processed by our highly qualified shipping team to ensure that the merchandise arrives in excellent condition and ready to add a distinctive touch to your unique taxidermy project.
Walnut Hollow was acquired by UFP Industries in April 2021. Customers can expect the same products, quality, and Midwest values presented in the past 50 years. For more information about the acquisition, read the press release here.
Features and Benefits of Walnut Hollow® Country Products
Walnut Hollow Country wood surfaces are furniture grade and kiln–dried to a 6–10% moisture content.
Wood surfaces won’t warp or crack.
Moisture controlled facility makes use of state-of-the-art equipment and processing methods to maintain consistent quality and craftsmanship.
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Wood products are produced from quality, edge-glued panels using precision equipment.
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All wood surfaces are finely sanded, sealed and finished.
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Only the highest quality wood is used in order to assure few knots or discolorations.
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Orders are produced and delivered on time. Most orders ship within 5 business days or less.
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Four decades of manufacturing and distribution experience.
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Eco-conscious company with a commitment to maintain America’s natural resources.
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Made in the USA
Our Commitment to the Environment
The single most important factor in our continued success is practicing a sensitive attitude toward our natural resources. We are strongly committed to preserving the environment and resources that allow us to produce the fine quality products we make.
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Since the inception of Walnut Hollow in 1972, our company has been strongly committed to preserving natural resources through its raw materials consumption practices, production processes, recycling activities and community involvement.
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Walnut Hollow supports and monetarily contributes to important conservation organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Whitetails Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation and Trout Unlimited.
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In 2007, our founder, Dave Ladd, was awarded the Conservationist Lifetime Achievement Award by Gathering Waters Conservancy for his dedication to environmental sustainability in business as well as decades of untiring land stewardship in his native Iowa County and across the state. In 2006, our company received the John Brogan Award, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources highest form of environmental recognition. John E. Brogan, former member and chair of the Natural Resources Board, initiated the award in 1982. Walnut Hollow shares this prestigious accomplishment with respected organizations including Trout Unlimited (Wisconsin Chapter), Snap-On Tools Corporation, Green Bay Packaging, 3M Menomonie and John Deere Horicon Works.
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Whenever possible, raw material is harvested from plantation and managed woodlands for the manufacturing of our products.
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Our manufacturing process is state-of-the-art lean manufacturing, which allows for a minimum of waste and an increase in operating efficiencies. Wood waste and sawdust are recycled and sold as livestock bedding. No wood waste ends up in landfills.
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Walnut Hollow has a unique sawdust recovering system whereby sawdust and chips from the manufacturing process are vacuumed at each workstation to a central silo storage system. As a result, the manufacturing operation is not detrimental to the health of our employees or the environment.
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Shipping cartons are made from 50% recycled fiber and all packing material is biodegradable (cornstarch peanuts).
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Our company partners with Alliant Energy on shared savings programs that help to conserve energy. Grants have also been received from Wisconsin Focus on Energy for energy saving programs adopted by the company.