FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Farmer-Led from the Begin and for the Future
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., March 4, 2025 — The Natural Farming Analysis Basis (OFRF) has chosen the seven inaugural members of a new Natural Stewardship Council (OSC). Composed of farmers from totally different areas, agricultural backgrounds, and numerous farming communities, in addition to representatives from farmer associations, these stewards carry collectively numerous voices to form OFRF’s work and elevate the priorities of natural and transitioning farmers nationwide. The formation of this advisory council strengthens OFRF’s long-standing dedication to taking its lead from farmers.
“By formalizing this advisory physique, we’re creating a permanent construction that empowers farmers to information and form our work at each stage. We’re thrilled to carry collectively this council of skilled voices who perceive the challenges and alternatives in natural farming,” mentioned OFRF Govt Director Brise Tencer.
Following a aggressive nomination and evaluate course of, and approval from OFRF’s Board of Administrators, OFRF is happy to introduce the brand new OSC members:
Albert Straus, Straus Household Creamery (California)
Albert is the founder and government chair of Straus Household Creamery, the primary 100% licensed natural creamery in the USA. He based the Creamery in 1994, whereas his farm, the Straus Dairy Farm, grew to become the primary licensed natural dairy west of the Mississippi River. He brings many years of management expertise in sustainable natural farming practices.
Anna Jones-Crabtree, Vilicus Farms (Montana)
Anna and her husband Doug personal and handle Vilicus Farms, a first-generation, natural, 12,500-acre dryland crop farm in Northern Hill County, Montana, rising a various array of natural heirloom and specialty grain, pulse, oilseed, and broadleaf crops beneath five- and seven-year rotations. Anna holds a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a minor in Sustainable Methods from Georgia Institute of Know-how.
Brooke Gentile, Natural Affiliation of Kentucky (Kentucky)
Brooke joined the Natural Affiliation of Kentucky (OAK) in 2017 as the chief director and manages the KY Farm Share Coalition. Born and raised in Kentucky, she has labored with sustainable agriculture tasks in New York Metropolis, Northern California, Indiana, and Kentucky. Brooke cares deeply about constructing a regional meals system that helps our farmers, is regenerative for our lands, and is wholesome and accessible for shoppers.
John McKeon, Taylor Farms (California)
John is the Director of Natural Integrity and Compliance at Taylor Farms Retail, overseeing natural compliance and regenerative natural practices. He has labored at Taylor Farms and Earthbound Farm for 15 years in natural discipline and facility meals security, worldwide natural provide chain compliance, and natural agricultural operations. John additionally spent 10 years at CCOF, from an intern to certification director after which inspector. He studied horticulture, sustainable agriculture, and environmental research at Cabrillo Faculty and the College of California Santa Cruz.
Jordan Settlage, Settlage & Settlage Farms (Ohio)
Jordan is a dairy farmer with Natural Valley Cooperative, primarily based in St. Marys, Ohio. Farming alongside his father, he manages 500 acres of licensed natural land and cares for a herd of 300 cows. Although he didn’t develop up on a dairy farm, Jordan has been concerned in dairy since childhood and have become licensed natural in 2016. With a powerful emphasis on grazing, he’s keen about regenerative agriculture and is devoted to bettering the general agricultural system.
Leonard Diggs, Pie Ranch (California)
The Director of Operations and Farming Training at Pie Ranch in Central California, Leonard has managed sustainable and natural farms in northern California for over 30 years, together with a 365-acre school farm with annual and perennial crops, a vineyard, livestock, and a combined species forest. He has additionally instructed a variety of agricultural courses and served on quite a few agricultural boards and committees in an effort to share his experiences with present and future generations of gardeners and farmers.
Meg Moynihan, Derrydale Farm (Minnesota)
Meg is an authorized natural dairy farmer in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, the place she and her husband milk about 60 cows and direct market beef from Derrydale Farm. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Nashville, Tennessee, Meg earned her B.A. from Brown College and an M.S. in Agronomy from the College of Minnesota. Her expertise contains main the Minnesota Division of Agriculture’s Natural Program, directing a statewide sustainable agriculture program in Michigan, working as an educator and evaluator, collaborating within the Nationwide Affiliation of State Natural Packages, and serving on the board of administrators for the Natural Discipline College in Farmington, Minnesota. Meg additionally previously served as president of OFRF’s Board of Administrators.
The Council will provide invaluable suggestions and suggestions to OFRF’s Board and workers throughout a spread of areas, together with:
- Shaping OFRF’s applications by providing perception into instructional sources, analysis priorities, and coverage advocacy to make sure they align with the wants of natural and transitioning farmers.
- Voicing farmer views by elevating on-the-ground realities and challenges farmers face to information OFRF’s strategic route.
- Evaluating the impression and offering suggestions on the relevance and effectiveness of OFRF applications.
- Addressing rising agricultural points, together with the Nationwide Natural Analysis Agenda (NORA), suggestions on OFRF’s new Natural Analysis Hub, and Farm Invoice priorities.
With this Council, OFRF continues to steer with the voices of natural farmers and create modern pathways to advance the adoption of natural farming programs that prioritize local weather resilience, soil well being, and sustainability.
For extra details about OFRF and its initiatives, go to www.ofrf.org.
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Concerning the Natural Farming Analysis Basis
The Natural Farming Analysis Basis (OFRF), headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, with a distant group primarily based throughout the U.S., works to foster the advance and widespread adoption of natural farming programs. OFRF cultivates natural analysis, training, and federal insurance policies that carry extra farmers and acreage into natural manufacturing. For extra details about OFRF, please go to our web site: www.ofrf.org.
Contact:
Ashley Dulaney, Communications Director, OFRF
ashley@ofrf.org
