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A letter from Lisanne Finston, executive director of Gould Farm, written for our Spring 2025 print newsletter and published in full on our blog.
Dear Gould Farm Friends,
Uncertainty seems to define our times. Political shifts, social upheaval, economic and international strains—these moments of instability can make us feel unmoored. Yet, uncertainty is not new. It was present in the early 1900s, when Will and Agnes Gould founded Gould Farm, and it was present in the days following Will’s death a century ago in 1925 when Agnes was left to carry forward their shared vision.
History gives us not just perspective but also tools for navigating the unknown. As we turn to the stories of Gould Farm’s past, we can find wisdom in the resilience of those who walked this path before us.
Agnes Gould: Bearing Grief, Carrying Vision
When Will Gould passed away in 1925, the Farm was still a fledgling enterprise. The loss of its founder could have spelled the Farm’s end, but Agnes refused to let that happen. She kept to her room for two days, then emerged to lead the singing at Will’s memorial service. As one witness recalled, “She emanated publicly and privately a largeness of spirit, a warm, generous idealism expressed with confidence, clarity, taste, and self-deprecating humor” (McKee, A Life of Sharing)...
Read the entire letter from Lisanne here.
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