Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association Celebrates 40 Years

Columbus, OH—The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association celebrates 40 years of engagement with farmers, homesteaders, gardeners, activists and food lovers in 2019. The organization has planned a year’s worth of special events to commemorate the milestone.

Special 40th anniversary events this summer and fall include farm-to-table dinners at Jorgensen Farms and Maplestar Farm in August, an all-Ohio keg tapping at Fibonacci Brewing Company in Mt. Healthy in October, and a November open house, which will be featured in the 2019 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate 40 years of providing education and assistance to the good farmers who are growing good food on the good land for which they are the stewards,” said OEFFA Executive Director Carol Goland. “We were founded by visionaries committed to creating a more healthful food system. What might have been a dream in 1979 is a greater reality each and every year as society has come to share an understanding of the importance of agriculture in creating a sustainable future.”

From early meetings in living rooms, to a humble church basement office, to owning a picturesque Clintonville headquarters housing more than 30 staff members, OEFFA has continued to grow and evolve over the years.

Today, OEFFA boasts more than 4,000 members and hosts Ohio’s largest sustainable agriculture conference. In addition to offering education and technical assistance, as a national leader in the sustainable agriculture community, OEFFA works with policymakers in the Statehouse and Washington D.C. on behalf of sustainable and organic farmers. In 1981, OEFFA founded one of the first organic certification programs in the nation and currently certifies more than 1,300 farms and processing facilities in Ohio and other states.

OEFFA’s 40th anniversary special event lineup for 2019 includes:

The Farmers’ Table at Jorgensen Farms

Sunday, August 4

The Farmers’ Table returns to Jorgensen Farms with a special menu crafted by Jorgensen Farms Head Chef Alonzo Horn. Guests will enjoy an assortment of hors d’oeuvres during a casual social hour followed by three plated courses paired with local beers.

“Friends new and old are invited to join OEFFA for an unsurpassed night marking this very special anniversary,” said Goland.

To register, go to www.oeffa.org/q/farmerstable.

The 5th Annual Dinner Celebration at Maplestar Farm

Sunday, August 25

Maplestar Farm and Driftwood Catering are reuniting for a fabulous farm-to-table menu of small plates to showcase a diversity of Ohio flavors. Farmers Jake and Dawn Trethewey will lead guided tours of the farm and guests will enjoy little bites of summer in the field and at the table, along with Great Lakes beer and Wente Vineyards wine.

To register, go to https://maplestardinner.eventbrite.com.

Toast to Ohio’s Harvest Keg Tapping at Fibonacci Brewing Company

Saturday, October 12

The community is invited to join OEFFA at Fibonacci Brewery to tap a very special keg, toast the season, and celebrate the labor of love that is farming.

“Fibonacci has brewed an all-Ohio-grown beer to celebrate the hard work and delicious bounty of our state’s farmers,” added Goland.

Owners Betty and Bob Bollas will host special tours of the brewery and discuss the nuances of sourcing local brewing ingredients.

A Very OEFFA Open House

Friday, November 15

OEFFA is inviting guests to its office to meet the staff, ask questions about organic certification, compare production practices, enjoy light snacks, and peruse the office record collection.

More details about OEFFA’s 40^th anniversary events are available at www.oeffa.org/news/40-years and information about other events in the 2019 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series is available at www.oeffa.org/news/farm-tours-2019.

“The dedication and passion that has sustained and grown our organization over 40 years is something truly special that all of our members should be proud of,” Goland said. “All of the farmers, homesteaders, gardeners, educators, chefs, food entrepreneurs, and rabble-rousers have worked hard to get us here, and the future has never been brighter. We deserve to celebrate together.”