Mission & Vision
Our Mission
The Good Shepherd Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to its mission of safeguarding biodiversity through the use of Standardbred poultry and historical purebred lines of livestock for agricultural use. We engage in conservation, education, and research and development in collaboration with farmers, poultry producers, scientists, consumers, and culinary professionals.
Our Vision
We seek a world where Standardbred Poultry has not only been saved from extinction, but has also become wildly popular again. Our wish is for a food system where all consumers have access to nutrient-dense poultry that comes from healthy and contented animals. Our prayer is for billions of naturally growing birds to be raised by happy independent farmers each year. Our will is to preserve historical poultry for a better future.
Our Values
Preservation & Education
We preserve important breeds of livestock by fighting for their place on our dinner tables and educating the public on how to successfully breed, raise, and market these amazing animals.
BioDiversity
By working to save and grow a diverse group of historically consumed birds that are quickly disappearing, we counter the dangerous monoculture created by the industrial poultry system of today.
Balance
Bringing good genetics to the table creates a balanced animal. This leads to an improved agricultural system, a healthier environment, and a better world.
Health & Safety
Modern industrial poultry breeds suffer from deformities and weak immune systems, making them breeding grounds for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and dangerous viruses. Using Standardbred animals can reduce these risks and enhance public health.
Animal Well-Being
Genetic health is a key yet overlooked aspect of animal well-being. Poor genetics in industrial poultry breeds are a leading cause of suffering in agriculture. As the gold standard for genetic health, Standardbred poultry can improve the lives for farm animals worldwide.
Farmer Freedom
Most poultry farmers today earn little and take on massive debt to enter the industry. We support a system that empowers farmers with greater independence and stability by using genetic stock that reduces corporate control and returns it to family farms.
Environmental Stewardship
We take responsibility for building a better future by preserving animals which are bred to live outdoors as part of a holistic farming system that improves the land and safeguards our environment.
Our Story
The Good Shepherd Team
President - Master Breeder
Frank Reese
Frank Reese is a world renowned Standardbred poultry breeder and farmer based out of Lindsborg, Kansas. He has committed his life to the preservation of biodiversity via protection and stewardship of the oldest continuously bred flocks of Standardbred poultry in the United States. These flocks are kept and maintained on his farm, The Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch, which due to Frank’s efforts has become nationally renowned by farmers and chefs alike. Frank is a pioneer in his field and has been featured in publications ranging from the New York Times to National Geographic and Vogue.
Executive Director - Production Manager
Jed Greenberg
Jed Greenberg is a Standardbred poultry farmer, educator, and a notable humane butchery expert. While running an egg farm co-op in his twenties Jed studied humane animal handling and farming methods. During this time Jed met Frank Reese and quickly became invested in the Good Shepherd mission. Upon itsinception, Jed Greenberg joined the board of the GSC, eventually stepping up to become its Executive Director.
Treasurer
Patrick Martins
Patrick Martins was born in New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital on February 10th, 1972. Later, he received a Masters’ Degree in Performance Studies at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Patrick works with an excellent team to run Heritage Foods, a mail-order and distribution business for dozens of farms raising heritage breeds of livestock and poultry, the last vestiges of pre-industrial agriculture in America, the kind you must eat to save! You can order online or enjoy these foods at hundreds of the finest restaurants and markets from coast to coast.
In the Eating Aimals Movie
On the P. Allen Smith Show
A Tour of The Good Shepherd Ranch
Chosen Farms on Tripping Kosher
