In memory of the beloved baker and entrepreneur behind Moxie Bread Co.
Father. Baker. Organizer. Musician. Entrepreneur. Friend. Andy Clark wore many hats over the course of his time in Boulder County, a place he was so proud to call home. A rambling man in spirit, he arrived in Colorado at the ripe age of 18, via a road trip that he intended to end in California. Over the next two decades he trained under numerous trailblazers in high-altitude baking and heritage grains—mentors he never forgot and whose work he continued to champion as his own star rose. When it came time to open his own business—Moxie Bread Co., in Louisville—he did so with a focus on freshly milled, organic flour and meaningful relationships with farmers, earning numerous local and national accolades in the years that followed.
Yet Moxie was always more than a bakery. It was a movement—and food was merely its platform.
Andy cared deeply about the people around him and had a way of making even fleeting interactions feel special. As his influence grew, he faced seemingly insurmountable problems—whether in his community or the local food scene—with a fearless sense of responsibility and activism. Whether spearheading a viable supply chain for heirloom grain in Colorado or feeding displaced families in the wake of the Marshall Fire, he consistently stood up for the causes he believed in and put his incredible generosity into action. Throughout the pandemic, his weekly newsletters became welcome reading for Moxie patrons, as he shared poetry, music and vulnerable stories from his experiences as a small business owner, providing a glimmer of connectivity during the loneliest days of social distancing.
For those who knew him best, the most memorable moments with Andy were the unexpected ones—and you were always guaranteed an adventure in his presence. He was an enthusiast with an infectious zest for life, whether introducing like-minded souls, getting giddy over farm equipment or sharing a tune from one of his favorite bands. In truth, music was his greatest passion and Telluride Bluegrass was his annual pilgrimage. Moxie in Lyons, Colorado’s, “festivarian” headquarters, was a long-held dream, hosting numerous after-hours jam sessions with local musicians. In his own words:
“There is a heartbeat in Lyons that beats like no other. Music, community, nature and beauty bubble up through the cracks in the ground. Yesterday, I stood on our new back patio, looking at the red buttes and pine gullies, and just about melted with the sheer beauty of it all.”
So much of that beauty was in Andy’s unique ability to see the good: in people, places and a constant sense of possibility.
The tragedy of Andy’s death is that he seemed to have magic at his fingertips. He thrived in a state of organized chaos that was magnificent to witness. Many of us will remember him covered in flour, manning the oven at Moxie pizza parties, as a rotating cast of his nearest and dearest threw together toppings or strummed at the banjo. He always left room for spontaneity, allowing friends, neighbors and collaborators to fill in the blanks.
More than any of his individual achievements, Andy’s legacy is the people who loved him. He drew us together, reminding us that we are truly stronger, better and brighter when we all bring our individual talents to the table. His is a hearth fire that will never be snuffed out—one that we, his community, will stoke by continuing to gather in the way that Andy taught us.
Andy passed away in November 2022. Any fitting tribute to Andy would fill thousands of pages, featuring stories from the many individuals he called mentors, collaborators or friends. Our condolences go out to his family—especially his three sons, whom he loved dearly—and all members of the baking, regenerative agriculture and Boulder County communities who continue to mourn his passing.
