Sam Welsch was what I’d call a True Believer in organic. Not just a true believer in organic as a label, but a true believer in organic as a whole system—a guiding principle for transforming how we manage the resources of this planet. He recognized that farming—both destructive and necessary--could be done in a way that better served Earth and humanity.

As the founder and manager of OneCert, Inc., Sam was unique. He was the sort of boss that didn’t give directives.  Instead, he gave you principles to follow and then let you run with them. He never micromanaged or meddled. He wanted us to use our heads and use our hearts to stand up for what mattered. A few months ago he told me that he was, “trying to make himself redundant.” In other words, he hoped to impart his knowledge and his ethics in others before moving on. He was planting seeds so that a new generation could flourish. 

As a man, one thing Sam never did was back off his principles. He did not capitulate to powerful forces, refusing to compromise when he knew he was right. Once, when I was dealing with a particularly difficult fraud case, he messaged me to offer moral support. “We should not be timid in the face of corruption,” he said. I take his bravery, his strength, and his profound sense of justice, and let it inspire me to move through the world with renewed purpose.  Thank you, Sam.