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  • OEFFA Press Releases

    Farmers, Organizations Impacted by Funding Freeze Ask USDA to Honor Farmer Contracts

    May 14, 2025 /

    Since January, billions in lawfully signed federal funding contracts have been frozen for review or cancelled. As the situation unfolded, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) surveyed our community to assess the impact. We interviewed three respondents, briefly capturing their experiences in the short video below [transcript here]. As farmers prepare for each growing season, they must make decisions with a large degree of uncertainty in the outcomes. How the weather, market, seeds, and soil respond is out of their hands. Despite their experience and planning, every year is a gamble that their yields will be what they need. Farmers must always tolerate uncertainty; however, this growing season…

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    Cattle

    Senator Brown, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Local Meat Processing Support, Bolster Resilient Food Systems

    February 10, 2023

    Khara Strum Joins OEFFA as Executive Director

    May 1, 2024
    Farm Tours

    Explore Sustainable Agriculture at an OEFFA Farm Tour or Workshop

    May 15, 2023
  • OEFFA Press Releases

    OEFFA Launches 2025 Farm Tour and Workshop Series

    May 12, 2025 /

    The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) announces its annual Farm Tour and Workshop Series. The 2025 series of public tours and workshops includes a number of events showcasing organic and ecological farms in Ohio and one in West Virginia, plus educational and social opportunities. This programming opens the door for farmers, gardeners, educators, and conscious consumers to learn about local foods and farming firsthand. “OEFFA is excited about this year’s farm tour series and grateful to our farmer members and partners who are sharing their experience and expertise with anyone interested in learning more about farming, where our food comes from, and why healthy soil is so important…

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    Resilient

    Pingree Reintroduces Agriculture Resilience Act

    March 28, 2023

    First Annual Ohio Soil Health Week to Take Place November 10-16

    October 29, 2024

    OEFFA Praises Representative Brown’s Legislation to Support Urban and Innovative Producers

    October 19, 2023
  • OEFFA News

    Mental Health Awareness Month: Resources for Farmers

    May 6, 2025 /

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month, making it a good time to center our farmers and recognize all they go through to feed our communities and steward our land. Farmers carry a lot on their shoulders—climate unpredictability, market fluctuations, stress, isolation, and uncertainty. This is a heavy load to bear alone. That’s why we’ve prepared some mental health resources for farmers. If you are experiencing a crisis, call 988 to talk to a caring counselor. You are not alone. Breaking the Stigma Agriculture is Ohio’s top industry. Farmers give their all to keep the industry strong and our communities fed. Many factors are out of farmers’ control, and that can…

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    OEFFA Policy Program Transition

    October 27, 2023

    A Message from OEFFA’s Board

    August 8, 2024

    OEFFA Policy Announces 2024 Film Screening Series

    January 3, 2024
  • OEFFA Member Spotlight

    Member Spotlight: OEFFA Authors

    March 11, 2025 /

    Originally published in the Winter 2025 edition of the OEFFA newsletter. As rich as the lands we grow on, the OEFFA community is also an abundant source of education and inspiration. We are fortunate to have members who share their expertise in myriad ways, including through the written word. For this member spotlight, we connected with three OEFFA authors. Deborah Fleming, Ashland County Deborah Fleming is an important voice for Ohio agriculture and our environment. The first essay she wrote was inspired by an interaction that many of us could likely relate to. After telling someone she was from Ohio, she was met with their grimacing face. Ohio has a…

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    Member Spotlight: Ava Johnson of SE Urban Farm

    November 17, 2023

    Member Spotlight: The Stratton Family behind Truest Farms

    September 21, 2024

    Member Spotlight: Ed Snavely of Curly Tail Organic Farm

    February 26, 2024
  • OEFFA Stories

    TOPP Mentorship Spotlight: Nanda Kishore Methuku

    February 28, 2025 /

    By Lindsey Marshall, Midwest Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) Intern Originally published in the Winter 2025 edition of the OEFFA newsletter. How does one become a farmer? Many farmers in the United States inherit their farms through generations, continuing the family legacy. Others acquire their farms through succession, a process where farms are passed down to new families or individuals.  However, a small percentage are first-generation farmers. Beginning farmers account for only 30 percent of producers in America, and an even smaller fraction are beginning organic farmers. Starting a farm is challenging, with financial hurdles and market volatility posing significant barriers.  Nanda Kishore Methuku started his career as a…

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    Land Legacy

    From Friendship to Land Legacy Preservation: A Tale of Non-Heir Land Transfer

    July 3, 2023
  • OEFFA Press Releases

    OEFFA Announces 2025 Award Recipients: Dave Shively, Amalie Lipstreu, Molly Sowash, CJ Morgan

    February 18, 2025 /

    The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) has named the 2025 recipients of its Stewardship, Service, and Beginning Farmer awards.   Dave Shively of Henry County received the Stewardship Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the cultivation of sustainable agriculture; Amalie Lipstreu of Licking County received the Service Award, which recognizes extraordinary service in support of sustainable agriculture; and Molly Sowash and CJ Morgan of Athens County received the Beginning Farmer Award, which recognizes innovation and commitment to overcome systemic barriers faced by new farmers. “This year’s awards winners are a testament to OEFFA’s strong, enduring community. Not only do they find ways to break through barriers, they share their…

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    Reilly Wright Comments Off on OEFFA Announces 2025 Award Recipients: Dave Shively, Amalie Lipstreu, Molly Sowash, CJ Morgan

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    Cattle

    Senator Brown, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Local Meat Processing Support, Bolster Resilient Food Systems

    February 10, 2023

    45th Annual Ohio Food and Farm Conference Opens Registration

    December 4, 2023

    Farmers, Organizations Impacted by Funding Freeze Ask USDA to Honor Farmer Contracts

    May 14, 2025
  • OEFFA Member Spotlight

    Member Spotlight: Yellowbird Foodshed

    December 14, 2024 /

    Originally published in the Autumn 2024 edition of the OEFFA newsletter. In many ways, Yellowbird Foodshed is a model for how our food system should work. Local, sustainable farmers are fairly paid and have stable access to the market, and eaters can access healthy food that connects them to home. A foodshed, after all, is the region that produces food for its population. For Yellowbird Foodshed, that population is Ohioans.  As I toured their Mount Vernon, Ohio facility, Yellowbird Foodshed (YBFS) co-founder Benji Ballmer pointed out that it had once housed antiques. When Ballmer first arrived, he brought a dry-erase board to his new office and wrote: “Mission: to decentralize…

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    Member Spotlight: Pam Mack of L Marie Ltd

    May 21, 2024

    Member Spotlight: OEFFA Authors

    March 11, 2025

    Member Spotlight: The Stratton Family behind Truest Farms

    September 21, 2024
  • OEFFA Press Releases

    46th Annual Ohio Food and Farm Conference Opens Registration

    December 9, 2024 /

    Registration is now open for Ohio’s largest sustainable agriculture conference. Now in its 46th year, this three-day event brings together hundreds of farm and food advocates from across the nation. The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association’s (OEFFA) annual conference, Boldly Grow, will take place Thursday, February 13 through Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Cherry Valley Hotel and Ohio Event Center in Newark, Ohio. “The OEFFA conference has a long history of providing high-quality programming in support of sustainable and organic farming in Ohio and beyond,” said OEFFA Executive Director Khara Strum. “We are looking forward to creating community with farmers, consumers, and advocates through workshops and curated social activities.”…

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    Reilly Wright Comments Off on 46th Annual Ohio Food and Farm Conference Opens Registration

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    Clintonville Farmers Market to Showcase Local Food Systems During National Farmers Market Week

    August 10, 2023

    OEFFA Announces 2025 Award Recipients: Dave Shively, Amalie Lipstreu, Molly Sowash, CJ Morgan

    February 18, 2025

    OEFFA Announces 2024 Award Recipients: Brandt Family Farm, Tom Redfern, Kim Bayer

    March 5, 2024
  • OEFFA Press Releases

    First Annual Ohio Soil Health Week to Take Place November 10-16

    October 29, 2024 /

    From November 10-16, 2024, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), members of its Ohio Soil Health Initiative (OSHI), and partners will celebrate the inaugural Ohio Soil Health Week. The weeklong, statewide celebration honors and raises awareness about the importance of Ohio’s soils and those who steward them. It will include outreach, education opportunities, and events to elevate this valuable natural resource.  The official designation of Ohio Soil Health Week has been introduced as an amendment to House Bill 162 and is sponsored by Ohio Sen. Tim Schaffer (OH-20). This follows years of advocacy by OEFFA and OSHI to advance soil health legislation in the Ohio General Assembly, drawing…

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    Heather Seely Comments Off on First Annual Ohio Soil Health Week to Take Place November 10-16

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    OEFFA Conference 2023

    OEFFA Announces 2023 Award Recipients: Jeff Dean, Jeff Dickinson, Scott Myers

    March 16, 2023

    Clintonville Farmers Market to Showcase Local Food Systems During National Farmers Market Week

    August 10, 2023
    Local Food

    Senator Brown Introduces Bipartisan Effort to Help Ohio Farmers, Support Local Economy

    April 19, 2023
  • Sustainable Agriculture in the News

    2024 Drought Relief Resources

    October 18, 2024 /

    From early harvests to closed pumpkin patches to increased risk of combine fires, Ohio’s prolonged drought is impacting all facets of agriculture. As of October 18, 2024, 49 Ohio counties have been declared primary disaster counties, based on the U.S. Drought Monitor. With conditions unlike any we’ve seen in recent decades, many Ohio counties have been declared primary natural disaster areas. There are resources to support farmers through these trying times. We will regularly update this post as resources become available. If you know of another type of available support that should be included on this list, please email heather@oeffa.org. On Thursday, October 17, OEFFA hosted a virtual Drought Community…

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OEFFA

Reilly Wright

Reilly Wright

Communications Director

(614) 725-3160
Online

(614) 725-3160
Online

Heather Seely

Heather Seely

Communications and Media Specialist

(614) 725-3164
Online

(614) 725-3164
Online

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