Merrill Ann Clark was born in March 1938, grew up on an Illinois farm, and earned a degree
in journalism from the University of Illinois. John Bell Clark was born on November 19,
1937, and grew up on a family farm in Illinois. He graduated with degrees in math and
chemistry from the University of Illinois. Merrill Ann Hahn and John Bell Clark were married
in 1959. The Clarks moved to Berkeley, where John earned a doctorate in biochemistry from
the University of California-Berkeley and then went on for postdoctoral work in biophysics
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He taught biochemistry at the University of
Notre Dame and worked as a research scientist in the private sector. Early on, the Clarks
operated a business called Vesperglas, natural leaves embedded in fiberglass and fashioned
into various household products.
In 1978, the Clarks established Roseland Farms, an 1800-acre organic livestock farm in Cass
County, Michigan. No fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides are used on the farm, and the
animals are fed only organic feed grown on the farm.
Merrill Clark taught at the college level, worked with various environmental organizations
in Michigan, and served as the Natural Resources chair of the state League of Women Voters.
She also led a study on agricultural pesticides and sustainable agriculture initiatives and
served on the Michigan Organic Advisory Committee of the Michigan Department of Agriculture.
In 1991, she was named a charter member of the National Organic Standards Board and served a
four-year term (1992-1996). She also chaired the NOSB Livestock Committee. The Clarks were
active in organic agriculture organizations such as Organic Growers of Michigan (OGM) and
its successor organization, the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA).
John Bell Clark died on May 1, 2006.
Roseland Farms is currently operated by John and Merrill Clark's sons and their families.
For further information, see the farm website.
