Connect with Candidates About Food and Farm Issues this Election Season

The General Election is 48 days away, and we want you to engage. Voting is one of the most vital ways we can influence our political system and help shape a better world. Those in the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) community hold many differing opinions, but we all want to know how legislators can support local food systems.

Like other 501(c)(3) organizations, OEFFA is strictly nonpartisan. We must not endorse or oppose candidates for public office, so there are limits to what we can and cannot do during elections and our advocacy with candidates. However, we can provide resources to help our community better understand how Ohio’s candidates approach food and farm issues—which is where our new guide comes in!

Connecting with Candidates

Personalize to Address Local Needs and Experiences

In addition to these questions, the guide includes definitions and programs to help you personalize what you ask of election candidates. You can adjust the questions to suit the needs of your local community, or adapt them for different levels of government. Your personalized questions could mention a particular USDA program you have used as a farmer, or it could highlight your experiences in accessing locally grown foods as a consumer.

We encourage you to use the guide to reach out to all types of candidates: federal, state, city, county, and other local offices. Every level of government can play a role in influencing our food and farm systems for the better.

As we approach Election Day, incumbent members of Congress and the Ohio General Assembly (those currently serving) will be home and in their districts. This provides an opportunity to meet with them and ask some questions that are important to you and your needs as a constituent. We recommend following their social media accounts or signing up for their email updates so you can know about upcoming town halls or other events. For those who may not have the time for an in-person meeting, check out page four of the guide for information about finding out who your candidates are and how to reach them.

Get Out to Vote!

We’d also like to hear from you. If you have any questions about the Connecting with Candidates Guide, we’d love to know. If you’ve gotten a response from a candidate and want to share it with us, you’re welcome to reach out at policy@oeffa.org. 

Thank you for engaging this election season and for educating yourself and your community on what is important to you in the food and farm movement. We encourage you to get out to vote. Election day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.