Once a successful Wall Street banker, John Ubaldo — aka "John Boy" — quit his career after the loss of a personal friend in the 9/11 attacks and purchased 185 acres of land in order to pursue a bigger dream. A dream that involves living an uncomplicated, traditional, agrarian life where he raises livestock and crops. But his dreams are complicated when he comes up against Big Ag, who support farming techniques that use all-in-one resources for large-scale producers, operators, and growers.
In the face of this ever-growing monolith, John soon realizes that his preferred method of farming is not in sync with today's prevailing agricultural practices. Usually a private farmer, John takes to his blog to become an outspoken activist who lobbies for GMO labeling, animal rights, the preservation of crop diversity, and the reduction of chemical fertilizers to help preserve small farms. John and his fellow small-scale farmers take their fight directly to the corporations that threaten to wipe out small, sustainable farms like theirs.
The film encapsulates one man's journey from the stock market to the farmer's market, and his tenacious desire to make local food the future -- one bite at a time.
"A pleasant film to watch, with lovely images of animal flocks and herds and maize fields, and the portrait of John is warm and sympathetic...The film can be used in methodology courses dealing with fieldwork and research dissemination, as a good base for discussion on issues of identification, reflexivity and outsider/insider issues in analysis and representation." — Professor Gudrun Dahl, Anthropology Book Forum
"Unabashedly exposes Big Ag as the toxic business model it is...Constructs bridges that can reach all people and communities on the universal values of the beauty of nature, the basic yet complex importance of food, and the protection of our children." — Headwaters Magazine
"The Bullish Farmer is a thought-provoking profile of one farmer who found value and passion in feeding his local community through traditional farming methods: crop rotation, no pesticides, and giving animals lots of room to graze. Recommended." — Video Librarian
"John Boy's ideas on food and farming are what we live by, and we buy his products daily...The Bullish Farmer tells the powerful story of this local hero who deserves followers around the world!" — Academy Award Nominees Lena Olin and Lasse Hallstrom
"One of the world's most inspiring and life-affirming films...the magnificent story of a Wall Street 'Bull' who has transformed his life into one epitomizing Kaiser Permanente's commitment to enhance healthy living." — Kaiser Permanente
"Passionate, but still keeping his sense of humor, John's inspirational crusade proves that one man can truly make a difference." — Cinequest
"Awakens the deep connection inside our souls through incredible shots of farm life. Through the eyes of director Ken Marsolais we are shown the real deal with John "Boy" Ubaldo, a former successful Wall Street investment banker turned farmer who realized his methods of farming are not accepted...The quiet, yet firm tone throughout the film matches Ubaldo's unwavering tenacity...You see how he and other rural farmers are tackling the influence of Big Ag one day at a time." — Newport Beach Indy
"With the beauty of rural upstate New York farmland as a backdrop, The Bullish Farmer offers a knowledgeable immersion in small-scale farming, and raises crucial questions about the ethics of what the government and the agriculture industry are asking us to accept as nutritious food for our families." — Michael Milius, The Bedford-Pound Ridge Record-Review
Citation
Main credits
Marsolais, Ken (film director)
Marsolais, Ken (film producer)
Vick, Nancy (film producer)
Vick, Nancy (screenwriter)
Ubaldo, John (on-screen participant)
Other credits
Cinematography, Gerardo Puglia; editing, Kristen Nutile; music, Tim Easton.
