Winter Interns Join OFA Ahead of Annual Farmer Fly-In
The Organic Farmers Association has welcomed new interns to the team! The interns will have a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of organic agriculture advocacy as OFA prepares for its annual farmer advocacy day in Washington D.C. in March. The interns will gain valuable insights into the principles and practices of organic agriculture, but will also actively contribute to OFA’s mission of elevating and uniting farmer voices.
The interns are part of the winter Organic Career Network (OCN) cohort. OCN connects organic organizations to students who are interested in exploring career pathways in the organic sector, and aims to provide students with the opportunity to get hands-on experience with organic certification, inspection, advocacy, and farmer education organizations and agencies.
Welcome, Interns!
Kendal Thomas
Communications Intern
Kendal is a recent graduate of American University, with a degree in Communications Studies and a Minor in American Studies. Having grown up in rural Pennsylvania and now living in Washington D.C., Kendal has a deep passion for regenerative agriculture, food access, and community building. She is curious about the relationship between farmers and consumers, exploring how to better connect us all to our food system and the earth. Dedicated to utilizing and growing her skills in communications, Kendal is excited for this opportunity to support efforts in organic agriculture.
Anay Shah
Policy Intern
Anay is a freshman at Georgetown University pursuing a B.S. in International Economics with a certificate in Global Development Studies. He is deeply interested in the intersection of economics and agriculture and sees organic farming as a powerful space for more equitable policy and resilient rural economies. On campus, he is involved with the Science Politics journal, DCivitas Consulting, and the GU Jazz Ensemble. At the Organic Farmers Association, he hopes to support advocacy that strengthens individual livelihoods, amplifies the voices of organic producers, and helps reshape food systems to better serve farmers and their communities.
Amanda Ohnmacht
Program Evaluation Intern
Amanda is a graduate student in Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University. She holds a BFA in Ceramics with a minor in Applied Biological Sciences from ASU, along with a certificate in Sustainable Agriculture from Mesa Community College. With a passion for small-scale ecological farming, she is committed towards building sustainable and regenerative food systems. Her long-term goal is to establish her own farm rooted in agroecological practices. Amanda is a returning OFA intern who served as the Fall 2025 Farmer Services intern.
Join today and support organic food & farms!
Organic Farmers Association members support a strong voice for organic farmers in Washington, D.C.
The Organic Farmers Association is the ONLY national organization where solely independent certified organic farms determine its policies and work agenda. OFA was founded on the belief that the voice of farmers like you should carry the most weight in agricultural policy decisions.
In recent years, OFA has made a difference by putting significant pressure on the USDA to finalize the Origin of Livestock Rule to help organic dairies and finalize the Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule to stop organic fraud and increase enforcement. We testified and advocated to allow paper pots for small-scale vegetable growers, introduced the ODAIRY Act of 2023, and advocated for stronger animal welfare standards for organic livestock and poultry production (OLPS Rule).
We have proved that farmer voices are stronger when we work together. Join us in this movement by becoming a member today!
Farm
Membership
U.S. certified organic farmers should select this membership. Only farm members are eligible to vote on Organic Farmers Association policy positions and priorities. International farmers, or farms that are not certified organic, should select the Supporter Membership.
Supporter Membership
Not a certified organic farmer, but want to support the organic farmers that make our planet and food systems a better place? Supporter members will be connected to the discussions about policies that affect organic farmers, and be called to advocate on their behalf.
Organization Membership
Organizations that have a significant membership (or stakeholders) of certified organic farmers should select this membership. Organization Members receive the tools they need to advocate for policies important to organic farmers and extend their network.