The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) has created a new award to highlight and honor those who have given their energy and passion in helping to create and support important agricultural policy, particularly at the federal level. At the 2025 Winter Meeting in Washington DC in early February, NSAC proudly awarded the inaugural Perennial Advocate Award to Mark Schonbeck.
Mark has been involved with farm policy for decades, guiding VABF through his positions as Board member, newsletter editor, policy liaison and numerous outreach events and presentations as well as his consulting and research work with the Organic Farm Research Foundation (OFRF). Mark has been a leader in supporting farm policy that is both scientific in approach and practical in implementation and NSAC recognized him for his incredible contributions to the organization and to the overall goal of establishing and maintaining farm policy goals that work for the farmer and grower.
Mark’s immense knowledge of organic farming systems and biological soil management have given strength and support to countless farmers over the past forty years and he continues to work with farmers to build resilience on their farms and learn to incorporate more natural methods of farming to heal the land and keep farmers doing what they do best!
It is with sincere appreciation and gratitude that we say THANK YOU to Mark Schonbeck and congratulations on a much-deserved award highlighting his achievements in the world of policy advocacy and organic farming.
Mark Schonbeck with Sarah Hackney, Coalition Director for NSAC
VABF Members! 
We'd like to see your farm
