Urban Ark Conservation

What Urban Ark Conservation does

Urban Ark Conservation is a veteran-founded and operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit sanctuary farm headquartered on a 191 Viall Hill Road farmstead in Towanda, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. The organization combines three operational pillars: heritage livestock breed conservation (with a registered Arapawa goat herd listed as Critical by The Livestock Conservancy), sustainable agriculture using aquaponics, permaculture, rotational grazing, and cover cropping, and agricultural therapy programs serving military veterans and first responders. Core services are organized as Livestock Conservation, Sustainable Agriculture, Agricultural Education, and Agri-Therapy, with operations supported by recurring volunteer days and a community-event calendar including Casks & Cauldrons, Campfire & Coffee, and seasonal volunteer events.

The organization's product surface consists of a 14-SKU direct-to-consumer merchandise storefront (apparel priced $3.50-$42.50), tax-deductible charitable donations, educational workshops on sustainable farming, and a planned on-site farm store for pasture-raised meats, organic produce, goat milk soaps, and candles. The technology stack is intentionally low-tech on the production side (sustainable husbandry and permaculture) and conventional on the digital side (a Wix-hosted e-commerce site, Instagram and Facebook channels, a YouTube/TikTok presence, an email newsletter, and Farmbrite farm management software). No public API, mobile app, or AI/ML capabilities are offered.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit funding stack: unrestricted and restricted donations (the largest implied component), merchandise margin, future farm store product sales, and fee or grant income from educational and agri-therapy programming. The Homegrown by Heroes USDA veteran-farmer certification and a strategic collaboration with Terra Nova Roots LLC for agri-therapy delivery are the primary external credentials and partnerships. With 1-10 employees and a single farmstead, Urban Ark operates at small nonprofit scale; no funding rounds, institutional investors, parent entities, or M&A activity are disclosed.

Name

Urban Ark Conservation

Legal name

Urban Ark Conservation, Inc.

Website

https://urbanarkconservation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Urban Ark Conservation is a veteran-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit sanctuary farm in Towanda, Pennsylvania, conserving critically endangered heritage livestock breeds and delivering agricultural therapy, sustainable agriculture, and education programs to veterans, first responders, and the local community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation and agricultural therapy services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Other Animal Production (1129)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB), Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Heritage breed conservation
• Agricultural therapy
• Sustainable farming services
• Nonprofit sanctuary farm
• Veteran support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Towanda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales of branded merchandise including t-shirts ($22-$30), hoodies ($36.50-$42.50), hats ($25.50-$30), stickers ($3.50-$4), patches ($13.50), and beanies ($21.50). Products carry conservation messaging and support the organization's mission.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting conservation efforts and veteran programs.
3. Farm Store Products: Future farm store offerings including pasture-raised meats, organic products, goat milk soaps, candles, and farm-fresh produce. Farm store currently in development.
4. Agricultural Education Programs: Educational workshops, courses, and hands-on experiences on sustainable farming practices, pasture-raised animal husbandry, and STEM education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Urban Ark Conservation is a veteran-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit sanctuary farm operating from a Towanda, Pennsylvania farmstead. Its core offerings comprise four service pillars — Livestock Conservation (registered Arapawa goat herd and other heritage breeds), Sustainable Agriculture (aquaponics, permaculture, rotational grazing), Agricultural Education (workshops and STEM programs), and Agri-Therapy (farming-based mental wellness programs for veterans and first responders) — funded in part by a branded merchandise e-commerce shop selling apparel, headwear, patches, and stickers.

Product overview

Urban Ark Conservation operates a unified merchandise shop selling branded apparel and accessories alongside four core service pillars: Livestock Conservation, Sustainable Agriculture, Agricultural Education, and Agri-Therapy. The merchandise portfolio (14 products) includes graphic t-shirts featuring heritage breed conservation themes (Arapawa Guardian Heritage Tee, Arapawa Goat Tee, Homegrown By Heroes Veteran Farm Tee), logo apparel (Urban Ark Conservation Logo Tee, Vintage Botanical Heavyweight Tee), outerwear (Logo Hoodie, Classic Hoodie), headwear (Trucker Hat, Camo Trucker Hat, Recycled Cuffed Beanie), accessories (Embroidered Logo Patch), and stickers. Services are offered through their nonprofit farmstead in Towanda, PA, with a Homegrown by Heroes certification supporting veteran-led agricultural programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Livestock Conservation Multi-species conservation of critically endangered and heritage livestock breeds, anchored by a registered Arapawa goat herd (Critical status per The Livestock Conservancy) maintained with ethical and sustainable breeding practices. Designed for conservation supporters, breeders, and the broader heritage breed community.
• Sustainable Agriculture Closed-loop sustainable farming operations combining market garden vegetables, aquaponics, permaculture, rotational grazing, cover cropping, crop rotation, and water-efficient irrigation. Provides ethically raised farm outputs and serves as the operational backbone for the other service pillars.
• Agricultural Education Workshops, courses, and hands-on experiences on sustainable farming practices, pasture-raised animal husbandry, permaculture, aquaponics, and STEM education. Targets farmers, students, school groups, and agriculture enthusiasts.
• Agri-Therapy Therapeutic farming programs using nature and agricultural activities as mental wellness and rehabilitation tools for military veterans and first responders. Delivered in partnership with Terra Nova Roots LLC on the Towanda farmstead.
• Arapawa Guardian Heritage Tee Ringspun unisex t-shirt featuring the Arapawa goat crest hand-engraved for Urban Ark Conservation, printed on soft ringspun cotton. Sold to conservation supporters to fund the Arapawa breed conservation program.
• Homegrown By Heroes Veteran Farm Tee Bella+Canvas 3001 unisex t-shirt honoring the veteran roots of Urban Ark Conservation. Sold to support veteran farmer programs and the Bradford County sanctuary.
• Arapawa Goat Tee — Rare Heritage Breed Conservation Shirt Bella+Canvas 3001 unisex t-shirt featuring an Arapawa goat design to raise awareness for one of the rarest heritage livestock breeds. Proceeds support the registered Arapawa herd and endangered breed conservation.
• Urban Ark Conservation Logo Tee — Animal Sanctuary Support Shirt Bella+Canvas 3001 unisex t-shirt featuring the official Urban Ark Conservation logo, made of soft durable ringspun cotton with true-to-size fit. Supports animal care, heritage breed conservation, and veteran programs.
• Urban Ark Conservation Vintage Botanical Heavyweight Tee Premium heavyweight cotton t-shirt with a vintage botanical Urban Ark Conservation crest, featuring a nature-inspired cottagecore aesthetic with soft, structured unisex fit.
• Urban Ark Conservation Logo Hoodie — Unisex Pullover Sweatshirt Unisex pullover hoodie with the Urban Ark Conservation logo, featuring soft brushed fleece, ribbed cuffs, and a roomy kangaroo pocket in sizes S to 2XL.
• Urban Ark Conservation Classic Hoodie — Heritage Farm Pullover Unisex pullover hoodie with the heritage Urban Ark Conservation logo, featuring soft brushed fleece, ribbed cuffs, and a roomy kangaroo pocket in sizes S to 3XL.
• Urban Ark Conservation Trucker Hat — Embroidered Logo Snapback Classic embroidered trucker hat with the Urban Ark Conservation logo, featuring a structured foam front, breathable mesh back, and adjustable snapback in one-size unisex fit.
• Camo Trucker Hat — Urban Ark Conservation Embroidered Snapback Camouflage trucker hat with embroidered Urban Ark Conservation logo, structured front, mesh back, adjustable snapback, and unisex fit — designed for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.
• Urban Ark Conservation Recycled Cuffed Beanie — Embroidered Logo Warm recycled cuffed beanie with an embroidered Urban Ark Conservation logo, featuring eco-friendly knit construction and snug unisex fit as a sustainable winter accessory.
• Urban Ark Conservation Embroidered Logo Patch — Iron-On / Sew-On Durable embroidered logo patch for iron-on or sew-on application on jackets, hats, backpacks, and tote bags, sold as a collectible way to support the conservation mission.
• Urban Ark Conservation Sticker — Bubble-Free Vinyl Decal Durable bubble-free vinyl sticker with the Urban Ark Conservation logo, kiss-cut and weatherproof, suitable for laptops, water bottles, journals, and car windows.
• How to Save Endangered Livestock Sticker — Conservation Decal Educational vinyl sticker about saving endangered livestock, featuring a durable weatherproof kiss-cut design for laptops, bottles, and journals.
• Sustainability Sticker — Eco Conservation Vinyl Decal Eco-friendly sustainability vinyl sticker from Urban Ark Conservation, a durable weatherproof kiss-cut decal for laptops, water bottles, and journals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Heritage breed conservation with registered Arapawa goat herd listed Critical by The Livestock Conservancy

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Terra Nova Roots LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner organization for agricultural therapy programs. Terra Nova Roots LLC collaborates with Urban Ark Conservation to provide therapeutic farming experiences for veterans and first responders. Mentioned as partner for implementing agri-therapy services.
• Homegrown by HeroescoreOthersUSDA-certified program that recognizes and certifies veteran farmers. Urban Ark Conservation is Homegrown by Heroes certified, which authenticates their veteran-owned farm status and supports marketing of veteran-grown products.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Polyface Farm: Family-operated heritage breed farm in Virginia practicing rotational grazing and integrated multi-species livestock. Comparable as a heritage breed, sustainable-agriculture operation with a strong educational and farm-tour component.
• Farm Sanctuary: Pioneering nonprofit farmed animal sanctuary with on-site visitor programming, education, and advocacy. Closely comparable as a multi-site sanctuary nonprofit combining animal welfare, public education, and donor-supported operations.
• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Nonprofit farm and education center in New York's Hudson Valley practicing sustainable agriculture with on-site programming. Comparable as a nonprofit working farm combining sustainable agriculture, education, and visitor engagement.
• Catskill Animal Sanctuary: New York–based nonprofit farmed animal sanctuary with a strong education and visitor programming focus. Closely comparable in size, mission, and revenue model (donations + on-site programming) to Urban Ark's sanctuary-and-education model.
• Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment: Maine-based nonprofit farm operating heritage breed livestock with public education, farm store, and visitor programming. Directly comparable as a nonprofit working farm combining conservation, education, and on-site retail.

Broad incumbents

• Best Friends Animal Society: The largest nonprofit animal sanctuary and welfare organization in the United States. Comparable as a nonprofit sanctuary operator with education, donor-supported model, and merchandise revenue, though at materially larger scale and broader species scope.
• The Livestock Conservancy: The national umbrella organization for heritage breed conservation in the United States. Directly comparable as the credentialing body that lists Urban Ark's Arapawa goats as Critical; serves as the industry convener, registry, and grantmaker for the niche Urban Ark operates in.
• White Oak Conservation: Florida-based conservation center managing rare and endangered species across multiple taxa. Comparable in mission scope (rare breed/species conservation) though at substantially larger scale and with a wildlife focus rather than livestock.

Emerging players

• Heroes and Horses: Montana-based nonprofit that uses ranching, horsemanship, and wilderness experiences for veteran reintegration. Comparable in the veteran-therapy-via-agriculture niche, with a similar small-team operating model.
• Veterans to Farmers: National nonprofit training veterans for careers in sustainable agriculture. Comparable in the veteran-agriculture intersection, though it focuses on training/career placement rather than operating a working farm.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UrbanArkConservation
• Instagraminstagram.com/UrbanArkConservation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urbanark

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Urban Ark Conservation