Important Changes to the 2026 OEFFA Conference

In 1979, a group of 130 farmers and consumers came together around the shared values of keeping family farms healthy and improving access to locally grown organic food. They founded a new organization to further these goals: Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA). This action marked the start of the annual OEFFA conference, bringing together farmers, eaters, and advocates in community and learning. 

In many ways, the conference is synonymous with OEFFA. The conference has changed greatly in the past 46 years, just as OEFFA as an organization has grown and evolved.

Whether taking place in a barn, high school, or convention center, this beloved event is known for its dozens of educational workshops drawing on the expertise of local and national partners, an expansive exhibit hall, locally sourced food, and countless memories of connection and learning.

2025 was a tough year for OEFFA and for many in our community. Costs of farming have skyrocketed, and supportive funding and other resources have become scarce, making it increasingly difficult to make a stable living as a farmer. Similarly, OEFFA lost a significant portion of funding while the costs of hosting an event like conference have increased dramatically. To keep the conference in its most recent format would have necessitated a substantial price increase for registration, meals, and other fees. 

Staying together is an important part of facing challenges, and the OEFFA Conference is still happening in 2026! We hope you will join us in February for a smaller, shorter, and more intimate conference. It will still provide the learning and community components we know and appreciate, but in a more focused and affordable format. Registration will open in early January and be limited to 200 attendees due to space limitations.

Here is a glimpse of what will be featured at the 2026 OEFFA Conference at Cherry Valley Hotel in Newark, Ohio, Friday, February 13 through Sunday, February 15:

• Food and Farm School: These 5-hour classes will explore topics ranging from farm labor issues to fruit tree fundamentals.  
• Workshops: Fifteen educational workshops will be offered across five tracks, each diving into topics such as artisanal meat production, the farm safety net, and value-added local food.
• Special Events: Keynote speaker Anneliese Abbott will dive into a journey through the past, present, and future of organic farming. Various social events will offer chances for connection, including an open mic night, viewings of the Growing Right Project, and a film screening of Common Ground.
• See more of what’s on the schedule at conference.oeffa.org.

The conference is a central pillar of OEFFA as an organization, frequently serving as the first encounter people have with OEFFA and the incredible community it fosters. This refocused conference will serve as a vehicle to convene the community to connect and learn, while we seek your feedback on what it will look like in future years. If you are an OEFFA member, you are invited to attend the Members’ Meeting on Saturday, February 14, at no cost to learn and share your thoughts.

Thank you for your loyal partnership with OEFFA and the community we serve. If you have questions, please reach out OEFFA Executive Director Khara Strum at khara@oeffa.org.