Benjamin Clark

I have worked in agriculture full time for over 12 years, and continue to support the farm and food system in several roles to this day. I currently serve as an organic inspector, a part-time farm hand for a small diversified dairy/livestock farm, and as a freelance operator providing equipment maintenance and repair services to local farmers.

I began my journey in raising food by managing a community garden plot while attending Bridgewater State University for Environmental Chemistry - after two seasons, I found that the community garden was more interesting and rewarding to me than the classroom, and began looking for work in farming as an alternative path forward. I found my opportunity via Craigslist, and started my "career" as a field hand on a diversified vegetable and livestock farm.

Since then, I've worked through several apprenticeships, assistant management positions, and served as a full time farm manager. I've worked for and managed a very diverse menu of operations, ranging in scale from the small (>2 acres) to the very large (13,000 acres), and growing everything from vegetables, grains, livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry), forage, dairy, meat, eggs etc. along the way. This breadth and depth of experience has honed my skills in the day to day practice of farming, the business management skills required to run a successful operation, and the personal dedication and spirit it requires to remain steadfast through the season.

These experiences have shaped my perspective on the industry as a whole, and how I see myself in the context of the food system and society. I plan to continue to farm into the future, and presently I am searching for the right opportunity to start a farm business for myself that aligns with my values and personality. In the meantime, I help milk cows, weld broken equipment, and visit farms all over the state of Maine as a MOFGA organic inspector, lending my knowledge and expertise of organic systems to producers in the region.

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