Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

1. Introduction
We at Shady Elm Farm (“we”, “us” or “our”) respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information when you visit and use our website https://shadyelmfarm.com (the “Site”). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information, and your rights in connection with that information, with specific reference to Wisconsin law.

2. Scope & Jurisdiction
This policy applies to all users of the Site. Because we operate in Wisconsin, we are subject to certain Wisconsin statutes concerning privacy, including but not limited to:

• Wis. Stat. § 134.97 (disposal of records containing personal information) (DATCP)
• Wis. Stat. § 134.98 (notice of unauthorized acquisition of personal information) (DATCP)
• Right of privacy and invasion of privacy statutes (Wis. Stat. §§ 995.50, 942.08) (Wisconsin Legislative Documents)

Please note that Wisconsin is in process of legislative developments regarding a comprehensive privacy law (e.g., the proposed Wisconsin Data Privacy Act) which may impose additional obligations in the future. (Securiti)

3. Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of information:

• Information you provide voluntarily: For example, when you contact us, sign up for a newsletter, purchase products or services (such as farm-goods or tours), register for an account, or otherwise interact with the Site. This may include your name, email address, mailing address, phone number, billing/shipping information, and any other information you choose to provide.
• Automatic / technical information: When you visit our Site we may automatically collect certain information such as your IP address, browser type and version, device type and operating system, pages you visit, time and duration of your visit, referring website/social media, and other usage data.
• Cookies and tracking technologies: We may use cookies, web beacons, analytics tools, and similar technologies to enhance your experience, gather usage data, and personalise content.

4. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To respond to your requests and provide products, services, information or support you have requested.
• To send you newsletters, marketing or promotional materials (only if you have opted-in), and to manage those communications.
• To process orders, payments, shipping, fulfilment and any related customer service.
• To analyse and improve our Site, our products and services, and our customer experience.
• To comply with applicable legal obligations and protect our rights, property or safety and those of others.
• To send you important notices (such as changes to this privacy policy) and, if required under Wisconsin law, to notify you of any data security incident.

5. Disclosure of Your Information
We will not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following ways:

• With trusted third-party service providers who help us operate the Site, fulfill orders, send emails, host our website, perform analytics, or provide other services. These parties are contractually bound to keep your information confidential and secure.
• If required by law, regulation or legal process, or to protect our rights, property or the safety of others.
• In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganisation or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction (with notice to you).
• With your consent or direction.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to collect information about your use of the Site and to personalise your experience. You can usually configure your web browser to block or alert you about cookies, or to disable certain tracking technologies. Please note that if you disable cookies, some parts of the Site may not function properly or at full capacity.

7. Data Security & Retention
We take reasonable administrative, technical and physical steps to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, use, alteration or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.
We will retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Under Wis. Stat. § 134.97, for example, businesses must properly destroy records containing personal information (by shredding, erasing or other secure method) when disposal is required. (DATCP)

8. Your Rights & Choices
Depending on applicable law and your location, you may have certain rights with respect to your personal information:

• The right to access or request information about what personal information we hold about you.
• The right to correct inaccurate personal information we hold.
• The right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to our legal obligations.
• The right to opt out of receiving certain marketing communications from us.
• In certain cases, the right to opt out of processing for targeted advertising or the sale of personal data (especially as new laws come into effect).

To exercise any of these rights or make a request, please contact us at the contact details in Section 12 below. We may require verification of your identity before fulfilling such requests.

9. Children’s Privacy
Our Site is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without appropriate consent. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.

10. International Transfers
Because we operate in the United States, your information will be processed and stored on servers located within the U.S. If we transfer your information outside the U.S., we will take steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.

11. California, Other States & Cross-Border Users
While this policy is written primarily with Wisconsin residents in mind, if you are visiting from another state or country you may have additional rights under your local laws. This policy does not limit any additional protections afforded to you by applicable law.

12. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, or wish to exercise any of your rights, please contact us at:
Shady Elm Farm
[Insert street address]
City, WI [ZIP]
Email: [Insert contact email]
Phone: [Insert contact phone number]

13. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the updated version on the Site and update the “Effective Date” at the top. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

14. Notice of Security Incident / Breach
In the event we become aware of an unauthorised acquisition of personal information we maintain that compromises the security, confidentiality, or integrity of that information, we will provide notice to affected individuals in accordance with Wis. Stat. § 134.98 (and any other applicable law) as soon as practicable. (DATCP)

Thank you for trusting Shady Elm Farm with your information.

Let me know if you’d like me to prepare a longer version (including data categories chart, retention schedule, vendor list template, cookie consent banner text, etc.).