Mission Statement

The August West Foundation For Sustainable Agriculture was formed to promote sustainable agriculture and strengthen our regional food system through research and the use of conventional farming methods.

Swing and Bench

AWF's educational programs will restore the integrity of all-natural farming and healthy food, free of all GMOs, poisons, and toxins. AWF's grain-feed business will greatly expand sustainable, all-natural farming, which will benefit our environment and people's health. AWF's seed depository will provide present-day farmers with organic seeds, and ensure that our children and future generations will have access to organic and heirloom seeds.

AWF's Objectives

To promote all-natural farming free of harmful chemicals, herbicides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) through educational programs and by providing support to farmers who choose to farm using all-natural methods.
To educate children through school presentations and hands-on experience on the farm while imparting knowledge of the agricultural system in the United States.
To provide producers of livestock with access to all-natural, non-GMO feed produced by The Foundation.
To provide marketing assistance to farmers to support access to the larger city markets where demand for non-GMO fed meats is high.
To create and maintain organic seed depository systems for use by both present-day farmers and future generations.

Commitment

The August West Foundation is committed to reaching all of our goals and helping to build communities of like-minded people dedicated to the same goals. I am personally committed to making this happen as the founder and Chairman of the foundation. I spent 12 years on Wall Street funding small startups. Nothing can compare to the impact we can make here on people's lives.

Your tax-deductible donation to August West Foundation will contribute directly to the programs that advance our mission of promoting sustainable agriculture.

The Farmer

John Ubaldo

The August West Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture was established from a promise I made to my son August when he was born. As the father of a newborn child, I was worried. What would I teach him? What tools could I provide to prepare him for life? As a farmer, I was terrified. Given the unregulated proliferation of genetically modified crops making up over 80% of our corn and soy, what would his quality of life be? Given the number of toxins, pesticides, and herbicides in our food, would he be sick later in life? What if he was and I wasn't there to care for him? How could I not do all in my power to protect him from such dangers? What about all of the other children of his generation? How could we fail them?

The August West Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture is my commitment to my son and all of the children of this country to leave them something better than what we started with. This foundation was founded on the basic premise that we are running out of time, and now is the time to "push back" against giant corporate agribusiness threatening the future of our food supply.

As a child, I wanted to be a farmer. I couldn't think of a nobler task in life. It is only recently that I have even considered giving myself the title of "farmer." The ability of the foundation to reach a wide audience and create as many new farmers as possible is paramount to its success. AWF aims to create greater agricultural diversity and encourage farmers to utilize proven, traditional farming methods to keep our food chain healthy and safe, now and for future generations.

I believe that the only way to make a change is through education. Education of children, families, and farmers is the only way to reverse the dangerous course our agricultural system has taken. In my entire life, I have never found a more important endeavor.

I am dedicated to bringing our agricultural heritage back and reviving the respect that comes with it. I am dedicated to seeing that every child has the education and knowledge to choose a healthy, nutritious meal. Most importantly, I am looking forward to leaving my son August something better than what we started with.

John Ubaldo
Farmer / Chairman of the Board, AWF
Cambridge, NY, 2014