Soo Line: Hand in Hand, Eagle Center Couple Raises Champion Clydesdales

By Soo Greiman  

    Besides their own love story, Amy and Eric Henry share a four-legged passion that’s left permanent hoof prints on their hearts. The Eagle Center couple is devoted to Clydesdales — the massive, majestic draft horses often recognized from the Budweiser hitch.  

Amy has loved horses since childhood. Growing up on her family’s farm east of Eagle Center, she’s grateful her parents, Tom and Rosie Beck, always had horses and ponies around to nurture her early passion.  

Her husband, Eric, a native of Osceola, didn’t share that “horse craziness” as a kid. “No way!” he laughs. But when he married Amy and moved to her farm in 2016, that all changed.  Sharing daily chores and barn time sparked his interest — and it took off like a rocket. 

Building Windy Acres  

The couple’s shared love for animals led them to focus on Clydesdales. They began searching for the perfect bloodlines, ultimately turning to the respected Oelwein breeder Robert Detweiler. “After studying many pedigrees, we realized his horses had the genetics we  wanted,” Eric said. The Henrys went on to purchase several of their foundation horses from  Detweiler.  

They first attended shows as spectators, but before long, they began showing under their farm name, Windy Acres, first in Iowa, then across the U.S.  

Despite having full-time jobs — Amy at Camping World and Eric at Arnold Motor Supply in Vinton — the Henrys dedicate much of their free time to horse care, training, and baling hay  for winter feed. Their greatest joy, though, is spending time with their 2-year-old granddaughter,  Deliah, and 15-year-old grandson, Bryson.  

Champions in the Barn  

This year has brought new levels of success. Their 4-year-old stallion, Andersons Royale Ellington — affectionately called Eli — earned top honors, alongside his barn mate, Windy Acres Mr. Keynote Speaker, or Earl, a 2-year-old gelding.  

Earl holds a special place in the hearts of both the Henrys and the Steimel family. Amy shares the story: “Our friend Mr. Steimel passed away on the same day Earl was born. We nicknamed the colt in his honor. Now, each summer the whole Steimel family visits to see him, and in August, 18 of them watch the Clydesdale show at the Iowa State Fair to cheer him on.  It’s incredibly sweet.”  

The Henrys are thankful for their daughter, Ashley Hovey, who lives nearby and takes  care of daily chores when they travel to shows.  

Living the Dream  

Their horses were shown at major events this year, including the Boone County Fair in Illinois, the North American Clydesdale Shire Fall Classic in Indiana, and the World Clydesdale Show in Springfield, Illinois. At the World Show, Eli, Earl, and two more Windy Acres horses — Fineas and Louie — all earned ribbons and recognition.  

Amy reflected on one of the show’s most memorable moments: “Compared to many of the large Clydesdale operations, Eric and I are kind of nobodies,” she said. “But when a 

Budweiser hitch team member came over and said, ‘I want to look at that horse,’ we were over-the-moon happy! That kind of compliment means everything.”  

For Amy and Eric Henry, Clydesdales aren’t just animals — they’re a shared way of life.  “We’re grateful to show our horses, and we’ve come to love the Clydesdale community. Eric and I say we’re living the dream.”