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  • Land Legacy
    OEFFA Stories

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

    July 3, 2023 /

    By Kelly Cabral, OEFFA Farmland Specialist On one rainy morning in late April 2022, I met farmers Mary Lou and Tom Shaw of Milk and Honey Farm to tour their land, meet their animated heritage breed Narragansett turkeys and Dorking chickens, and the farmer who is taking over their farm when they move out at the end of May. Twenty five years ago, Mary Lou and Tom purchased the 48-acre property. Over time, Tom built a 30-acre wetland and prairie on the property to accommodate the flourishing native biodiversity. It is a quaint farm, with a small farm house, seven outbuildings, animal housing, and a working windmill. In 2021, due…

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    Reilly Wright Comments Off on From Friendship to Land Legacy Preservation: A Tale of Non-Heir Land Transfer

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    TOPP Mentorship Spotlight: Nanda Kishore Methuku

    February 28, 2025
  • Farm Tours
    OEFFA Press Releases

    Explore Sustainable Agriculture at an OEFFA Farm Tour or Workshop

    May 15, 2023 /

    The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) and its partners invite you to get a taste of the farm this summer during the 2023 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. This annual series of public tours and workshops features more than 13 organic and ecological farms and businesses across the state, opening the door for farmers, gardeners, educators, and eaters to learn about agriculture and local foods on the farm. Tour guests can walk through farm fields, garden beds, livestock pastures, and more during these OEFFA farm tours:  Attendees can explore farming technology, sharpen advocacy skills, navigate farm jobs, and more during these OEFFA workshops:  In addition to OEFFA,…

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    Local Food

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

    April 19, 2023

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

    October 19, 2023
    OEFFA Conference 2023

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

    March 16, 2023
  • OEFFA Conference 2023
    OEFFA Press Releases

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

    March 16, 2023 /

    The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) has named the 2023 recipients of its Stewardship, Service, and Policy Leader awards.   Jeff Dean of Sandusky County received the Stewardship Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the cultivation of sustainable agriculture; Jeff Dickinson of Delaware County received the Service Award, which recognizes extraordinary service in support of sustainable agriculture; and Scott Myers of Wayne County was named the Policy Leader of the Year, which recognizes members whose actions have promoted effective policy work for OEFFA. These awards were announced February 16-18 as part of OEFFA’s 44th annual conference in Newark, Ohio. 2023 Stewardship Award Winner—Jeff Dean Almost 30 years ago, Jeff…

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    Khara Strum Joins OEFFA as Executive Director

    May 1, 2024
    Resilient

    Pingree Reintroduces Agriculture Resilience Act

    March 28, 2023
    Crop Insurance

    OEFFA Launches Member-Driven Crop Insurance Platform

    April 24, 2023
  • OEFFA Conference 2023
    OEFFA Press Releases

    Mohawk Seedkeeper Rowen White and Agronomist Ricardo Salvador to Keynote 44th OEFFA Conference

    January 18, 2023 /

    Cultivating a diverse regenerative agricultural movement and shaping a more current and equitable farm bill will be the respective focal points of keynote addresses by Mohawk seedkeeper Rowen White and agronomist Ricardo Salvador at the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association’s (OEFFA) 44th annual conference, Germinate, Regenerate, Agitate.  In her Thursday, February 16 keynote address, “Reseeding Imaginations of a Relational Agricultural System,” Rowen White will speak on Indigenous leadership, ecological knowledge, cultural memory, and the cultural inheritance of land and seeds. “Seeds are the foundation of agriculture, but they also encode a memory of the land, the climate, the weather, as well as people’s cultural values, aesthetics and stories,” White…

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

    October 19, 2023

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

    May 14, 2025

    Khara Strum Joins OEFFA as Executive Director

    May 1, 2024
  • OEFFA Press Releases

    OEFFA Announces Rachel Tayse as Executive Director

    January 1, 2023 /

    The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association is pleased to announce that Rachel Tayse joins the organization as executive director, effective January 1, 2023.    “OEFFA Certification Board President Bryn Bird and I want to extend heartfelt gratitude to our executive director, Carol Goland, who has guided and grown OEFFA expertly for 18 years. She has decided to ‘pass the torch’ to the next leader, and the board, staff, and stakeholders have been working diligently to find a replacement. As the natural and social environments continue to change, so does OEFFA,” said OEFFA Board President Steve Edwards. “Our new director, Rachel, along with the board and our other great staff, will continue to serve our…

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    46th Annual Ohio Food and Farm Conference Opens Registration

    December 9, 2024

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

    May 14, 2025
    OEFFA Conference 2023

    Mohawk Seedkeeper Rowen White and Agronomist Ricardo Salvador to Keynote 44th OEFFA Conference

    January 18, 2023
  • OEFFA Press Releases

    44th Annual Ohio Food and Farm Conference Opens Registration

    December 1, 2022 /

    Registration is now open for Ohio’s premier three-day educational and networking conference on sustainable agriculture, local food, and green living. The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association’s (OEFFA) 44th annual conference, Germinate, Regenerate, Agitate, will take place Thursday, February 16 through Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Cherry Valley Hotel and Ohio Event Center in Newark, Ohio. Online registration is now open at conference.oeffa.org. Keynote Speakers Thursday, February 16: Rowen White will speak on Indigenous leadership, ecological knowledge, cultural memory, cultural inheritance of land, seeds, and more. A seedkeeper and farmer from the Mohawk community of Akwesasne, White is a passionate activist for indigenous seed and food sovereignty. Saturday, February 18:…

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    Reilly Wright Comments Off on 44th Annual Ohio Food and Farm Conference Opens Registration

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

    October 19, 2023

    OEFFA Launches 2025 Farm Tour and Workshop Series

    May 12, 2025
    Cattle

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

    February 10, 2023
  • OEFFA Press Releases

    OEFFA Announces 2023 Farm Bill Platform

    September 1, 2022 /

    Today, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) released its 2023 Farm Bill Platform, comprised of five planks:  Promote soil health and climate resilience through conservation policy;  Increase investments in local and regional food systems;  Address consolidation in the food and agricultural system;  Invest in organic and sustainable research; and  Provide more support to beginning and BIPOC farmers.  The farm bill virtually structures the entire food and agricultural system in the United States. It is a major commitment by the government–and, by extension, taxpayers–to provide nutrition assistance, commodity and crop insurance subsidies, funding for on-farm conservation, support for renewable energy, and much more.   The OEFFA 2023 Farm Bill…

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    Khara Strum Joins OEFFA as Executive Director

    May 1, 2024
    Crop Insurance

    OEFFA Launches Member-Driven Crop Insurance Platform

    April 24, 2023

    Status-Quo House Farm Bill Draft Falls Short on OEFFA’s Member-Driven Priorities

    May 28, 2024
  • OEFFA Press Releases

    OEFFA Organizes Farm Bill Roundtable with Sen. Brown, Green Field Farms

    August 31, 2022 /

    Sustainable and organic farmers share their needs for the 2023 Farm Bill  On Aug. 30, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown met with Ohio sustainable and organic farmers to discuss their needs and challenges before the 2023 Farm Bill.   Held at Green Field Farms in Wooster, this roundtable brought together organic grain producers, grass-based livestock farmers, fruit and vegetable growers, and food and farm businesses involved in the sustainable agriculture economy. The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) partnered with Green Field Farms for a tour and listening session.  “This is an incredibly challenging time that also provides many opportunities,” said OEFFA Policy Director Amalie Lipstreu. “We can provide greater…

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    OEFFA Launches Annual Series of Farm Tours and Workshops

    May 31, 2024

    Khara Strum Joins OEFFA as Executive Director

    May 1, 2024
    Crop Insurance

    OEFFA Launches Member-Driven Crop Insurance Platform

    April 24, 2023
  • OEFFA Press Releases

    Connect with Farmers at a Sustainable Farm Tour or Workshop

    June 10, 2022 /

    The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) and its partners invite you to experience the diversity of agriculture this summer during the 2022 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. This annual series of public tours and workshops features nearly 20 organic and ecological farms and businesses in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana, providing unique opportunities for farmers, educators, and conscientious eaters to learn about sustainable agriculture, local foods, and those who make it possible. Tour guests can walk through urban farm fields, livestock pastures, and more during these OEFFA farm tours:  Sunday, June 26: Commercial Urban Farm Tour—Eden Urban Gardens, Hamilton Co. Wednesday, June 29: Infrastructure Capitalization Farm Tour—Three Creeks…

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    Crop Insurance

    OEFFA Launches Member-Driven Crop Insurance Platform

    April 24, 2023

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

    March 5, 2024
    Resilient

    Pingree Reintroduces Agriculture Resilience Act

    March 28, 2023
  • OEFFA Press Releases

    OEFFA Awards Funding to Beginning Farmers Impacted by the Pandemic 

    May 16, 2022 /

    The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) is awarding $30,000 in microgrants to beginning farmers across the state impacted by the pandemic.  The OEFFA Begin Farming Pandemic Relief Microgrants are intended to mitigate the pandemic’s economic impact on beginning farmers in Ohio with direct financial assistance. After an application period, eight recipients were selected:  Louise Gartner, Fox Tail Farm (Clermont Co.)  Brandon Lester, Omni Acres Farm (Fairfield Co.)  Andrew Needham, Needham Gardens (Cuyahoga Co.)  Jesse Rickard, Fox Hollow Farm Naturally (Knox Co.)  Christopher Roe, Saunders Valley Organics (Clark Co.)  Cory Stratton, Truest Farms (Champaign Co.)  Samantha Wickham, Foxhole Farm (Montgomery Co.)  Taylor Wiggins, From Scratch Farm (Licking Co.)  The funds…

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    Reilly Wright Comments Off on OEFFA Awards Funding to Beginning Farmers Impacted by the Pandemic 

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    Local Food

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

    April 19, 2023
    Farm Tours

    Explore Sustainable Agriculture at an OEFFA Farm Tour or Workshop

    May 15, 2023

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

    May 14, 2025
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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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