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

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 knowledge so that everyone can be lifted up,” said OEFFA Executive Director Khara Strum. “When we work together, we rise together. I commend these shining stars of our community.”

These awards were announced February 13-15 as part of OEFFA’s 46th annual conference in Newark, Ohio. For more information on these awards, visit news.oeffa.org/awards.

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2025 Stewardship Award Winner—Dave Shively

For nearly 21 years, Dave Shively has produced organic corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, sunflowers, alfalfa, and spelt foundation seed for a leading organic seed house on Shively Farm in Northwest Ohio. As a farmer and drainage contractor, he is also an impactful leader, mentor, and advocate in the organic grain-growing community.

Dave is the former president of the OEFFA Grain Growers Chapter (GGC), a group dedicated to sharing ideas and information for organic grain production for growers of all levels. Dave actively guided and grew the chapter for 10 years, leading it to be one of OEFFA’s most active and influential chapters. 

Dave has also served as the voice of the “OEFFA Grain Growers Hotline” for more than 10 years. He works closely with staff, taking referrals for new and transitioning grain producers, inviting them to the GGC, and answering their questions about organic grain production and marketing. Dave has presented and moderated workshops for a number of years at the annual OEFFA Conference. He has also served on the Ohio State University Organic Grain Conference committee since its beginning.

On a larger scale, Dave has publicly advocated for fair and practical policies for his fellow organic farmers. He consistently collaborated with OEFFA Certification and Education programs, offering feedback on organic policies to make them more practical for farmers. He has commented on behalf of the GGC to the National Organic Standards Board, raising awareness about issues such as import fraud, timing of meetings, and other important issues faced by organic grain growers. In March 2024, Dave visited Washington D.C. with OEFFA’s Policy team to advocate for sustainable agriculture with six separate Congressional offices. 

“He goes above and beyond to support people he knows and those he has just met,” said OEFFA Policy Director Milo Petruziello. “Dave is humble, loving, and supportive, while creating change and gaining new expertise to contribute to our community where it is needed.”

Many farmers know him as a leader and mentor in their work. Dave has held a number of roles within the organic farming community, and his work has expanded its network and impact throughout Ohio and beyond.

“I was very surprised and deeply honored to be selected to receive the Stewardship Award. To be included in the circle of past honorees is a reward in itself,” Dave said. “I have learned so much from talking with other organic farmers in my 20-year journey [and] I feel a great responsibility to help others on their own journey.”

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2025 Service Award Winner—Amalie Lipstreu

With more than 25 years of public and social service experience, Amalie Lipstreu has made a career out of advocating for farmers and sustainable agriculture. 

Her focus on agriculture and food systems started after receiving a master’s in environmental policy from Kent State University. She advocated for and subsequently directed the Ohio Food Policy Advisory Council and the Office of Sustainable Agriculture at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. For many years, Amalie worked in land use around farmland preservation, including agricultural easement purchase and donation programs, transfer of development rights, and agricultural zoning.

In 2014, she joined OEFFA as policy director and greatly expanded the policy program. Focusing on food and agriculture policy at both the state and federal levels, she publicly advocated for organic and regenerative agriculture systems, soil health, and regional food systems resilience. Amalie connected with farmers at all levels, listened to their priorities and needs, and amplified their voices in both Ohio and Washington D.C.

“Amalie is a visionary leader, a passionate advocate, a generous mentor, and a compassionate friend,” said OEFFA Certification Program Manager Kate Pierfelice. “The growth in OEFFA’s policy program, our increasing power and influence in the Statehouse and on the Hill, and our expanded capacity to support and uplift farmer leaders are the fruits of her hard work and leadership.”

After nine years with OEFFA, she moved into her current role as agriculture conservation director with the Midwest Agriculture and Conservation Network, where she continues to support farmers and advocate for fair farm policy.

“OEFFA members motivated me to do my work every day to advocate on their behalf, and I will always count myself fortunate for being able to work side by side with an incredibly dedicated and talented staff,” Amalie said. “OEFFA embodies the belief that food connects us to the earth, history, culture, and each other.”

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2025 Beginning Farmer Award Winner—Molly Sowash and CJ Morgan

Molly Sowash and CJ Morgan started MoSo Farm in 2020 because of their “concern for the climate and the environmental destruction caused by our industrial food system.” They are first-generation farmers raising grass-fed and -finished beef and pastured pork in Athens County.

MoSo Farm uses farming practices such as rotational grazing, silvopasture, and establishing warm season grasses to increase the health of both their animals and the soil. Molly and CJ widely share their knowledge of silvopasture—the practice of integrating trees, forage, and grazing livestock on the same land—including at the 2024 OEFFA Conference and a silvopasture training field visit.

They are active in the Athens community, regularly selling at the Athens Farmers Market and welcoming visitors to their farm with events and farm-to-table dinners. They also sell through their online store and supply Kindred Market and Little Fish Brewery in Athens and Dayton. Through their social media platforms, Molly and CJ share the power of buying local and spread awareness about issues faced by farmers and the environment.

“Molly and CJ are enthusiastic beginning farmers committed to sustainability and building community,” said OEFFA Grassroots Policy Organizer Lauren Hirtle. “They are not only truly committed to improving their farm and business, but are endlessly dedicated to building and bettering their communities.”

CJ grew up in northeast Ohio, participated in 4-H, and worked on various farms throughout high school. He moved to Athens for college and then spent three years managing Melody Holler Dairy Farm. After working with the Forest Service for a few years, CJ was able to combine his knowledge of intensive grazing and forestry and start farming full-time at MoSo Farm in April 2024.

Molly has worked on various urban and rural farms, as well as taught in public schools as a food educator. In 2020, she moved on to her family’s land in Athens and purchased eight Lowline Angus calves, starting MoSo Farm.

While Molly helps run the farm, she is also the Sustainable Agriculture Director at Rural Action, a community development organization in Appalachian Ohio. She has been actively involved with OEFFA’s Policy program and their advocacy around soil health. In 2024, Molly visited the Ohio Statehouse twice to advocate for two pieces of active soil health legislation. She also helped organize a widely attended rally in Athens during the first Ohio Soil Health Week in November 2024.

“We are here because of the many mentors each of us have had throughout our lives and the lasting impact they continue to have on us,” Molly and CJ said. “We are so grateful for the support of our farming community in Athens, within Ohio, and beyond. We couldn’t do this without our family, friends, and mentors.”

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To nominate a sustainable agriculture leader for 2026’s awards, visit news.oeffa.org/awards.