A Message from OEFFA’s Board

Here we are, in the midst of summer 2024, filled with optimism as we collectively witness the fruits of our labor in hundreds of farms and gardens across OEFFA’s region. As we look forward to a bountiful harvest, I want to share the latest updates and some changes we are implementing to ensure we steward OEFFA’s resources wisely for our members and farmers.

In May, we welcomed Khara Strum as our new executive director. With nearly two decades of experience in conservation and farming, Khara brings a wealth of new energy and innovative ideas to our organization, and she is stepping into her new position with both confidence and grace. Additionally, we created a new role, director of operations, which our beloved and long-term staff member Alisha Schleining assumed in early June. Alisha’s expertise will strengthen our operational capabilities as we navigate the future.

Before Khara joined us, the Board made a strategic decision to put OEFFA’s building up for sale. This decision was guided by our commitment to environmental and financial stewardship. The building, acquired in 2014 through the foresight of Carol Goland, no longer aligns with our current needs. The COVID pandemic dramatically changed the way OEFFA operates, and more than half of our 43 staff members moved to working remotely—with only a handful of staff remaining in the building full time.

Although it was a difficult decision to make, maintaining a 9,500-square-foot office space is laborious, especially when it is not being used to its full potential, and selling it will allow the organization to reallocate resources effectively, reducing our environmental footprint and enhancing our financial sustainability.

In the meantime, Khara and staff are diligently searching for a new office space in Columbus that better fits our current operational needs. They are also evaluating OEFFA’s internal systems to identify opportunities for further improving efficiency. Once we settle into our new space, the Board will embark on a new strategic planning process to chart the course for OEFFA’s future success. Your input as valued members will be crucial during this pivotal phase, so please keep an eye out for an invitation to share your guidance and wisdom.

Change is hard, but just as a gardener prunes and nurtures to ensure a bountiful harvest, so too are we tending to OEFFA’s growth and sustainability. Together, let’s cultivate a future where ecological farming and sustainable practices flourish.

Warm regards,

Sarah Paul, OEFFA Board President