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Organic Farmers Association Welcomes New Leaders

Avatar for Paul Rusnak Posted by Paul Rusnak|March 14, 2019

The mission of the Organic Farmers Association is to provide a strong and unified national voice for domestic certified organic producers. Having the right people in the right place is key to completing that mission. Recently, new representatives were elected to the organization’s Governing Council and Policy Committee for 2019. The representatives will serve two-year terms, up to three consecutive terms. Newly elected members officially began their terms at the association’s annual meeting on March 13 in Washington, DC.

2019 Governing Council
The Council includes 19 members. From each of the six regions, the council includes two certified organic farmers and one organic farm organization. In addition, Organic Farmers Association fiscal sponsor, Rodale Institute, also has a seat on the council.

* = Newly elected

  • Farmers (Voting)

California Farmer Representatives
*Judith Redmond, Full Belly Farm, Guinda, CA
Steve Beck, Kings River Produce, Inc., Hanford, CA

Midwest Region Farmer Representatives
*Dave Bishop, PrairiErth Farm, Atlanta, IL
Joannee DeBruhl, Stone Coop Farm, Brighton, MI

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North Central Region Farmer Representatives
*Mike Kelly, High Meadow Farm, Johnson Creek, WI
Harriet Behar, Sweet Springs Farm, Spring Valley, WI

Western Region Farmer Representatives
*Nathaniel Powell-Palm, Cold Springs Organics, Bozeman, MT
Jessica Gigot, Harmony Fields, Bow, WA

Southern Region Farmer Representatives
Jennifer Taylor, Lola’s Organic Farm, Glenwood, GA
*Loretta Adderson, Adderson’s Fresh Produce, Keysville, GA

Northeast Region Farmer Representatives
David Colson, New Leaf Farm, Durham, ME
*Maryrose Livingston, Northland Sheep Dairy, Marathon, NY

  • Advisory (Non-Voting)

California Organization Representative
Phil LaRocca, Chair, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)

Midwest Region Organization Representative
Renee Hunt, Program Director, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA)

North Central Region Organization Representative
*David Perkins, President, Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES)

Western Region Organization Representative
Becky Weed, Board of Directors, Montana Organic Association (MOA)

Southern Region Organization Representative
*Michael Sligh, Program Director, Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI-USA)

Northeast Region Organization Representative
*Ed Maltby, Executive Director, Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA)

Sponsor Seat
Jeff Tkach, Rodale Institute

2019 Policy Committee
The elected Policy Committee of the Organic Farmers Association is made up of 12 voting certified organic farmer members and six advisory organizational members. Committee members are regionally diverse and reflect the national diversity of organic farms.

  • Farmers (Voting)

California Region Farmer Representatives
*Kenneth Kimes, Greensward / New Natives, LLC, Aptos, CA
Mark McAfee, Organic Pastures, Fresno, CA

Western Region Farmer Representatives
*Nate Lewis, Oyster Bay Farm, Olympia, WA
Pryor Garnett, Garnetts Red Prairie Farm, Sheridan, OR

North Central Region Farmer Representatives
*DeEtta Bilek, Tom and DeEtta Bilek Farm, Aldrich, MN
Harriet Behar, Sweet Springs Farm, Gays Mills, WI

Midwest Region Farmer Representatives
*Michael Adsit, Plymouth Orchards, Plymouth, MI
Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Village Acres Farm & FoodShed, Mifflintown, PA

Southern Region Farmer Representatives
*Laura Freeman, Mt. Folly Farm, Winchester, KY
Jennifer Taylor, Lola’s Organic Farm, Glenwood, GA

Northeast Region Farmer Representatives
*Luke Gianforte, Gianforte Farm, Cazenovia, NY
Dave Chapman, Long Wind Farm, East Thetford, VT

  • Advisory (Non-Voting)

California Region Organization Representative
David Runsten, Policy Director, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Davis, CA

Western Region Organization Representative
*Cara Loriz, Executive Director, Organic Seed Alliance, Missoula, MT

North Central Region Organization Representative
Matthew Miller, Policy Committee Member, Iowa Organic Association, Ames, IA

Midwest Region Organization Representative
*Mallory Krieger, Farmer Training Program Manager, The Land Connection, Champaign, IL

Southern Region Organization Representative
Michael Sligh, Program Director, Rural Advancement Foundation International, Pittsboro, NC

Northeast Region Organization Representative
Edward Maltby, Executive Director, Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Deerfield, MA

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Paul Rusnak is the Senior Online Editor of American Vegetable Grower, American Fruit Grower, and Greenhouse Grower magazines, all Meister Media Worldwide brands. He is based in Northeast Florida. See all author stories here.