Farmer Circles

Organic Farmers Association was created by farmers, for farmers.  OFA’s purpose is to build and support a farmer-led national organic farmer movement and we cannot do that without farmers! OFA Farmer Circles create a welcoming and safe space for farmers to cultivate community with other organic farmers.  In circles, farmers may share their experiences, voice challenges, identify farmer-led solutions, support each other, and form friendships or mentorships.  Farmer Circles offer a place to build a supportive community for what farmers need on a regular basis.  

The term, Farmer Circles, is symbolic of the relationships we aim to establish and maintain, allowing participants to share equally in the conversation in a non-hierarchical format. Farmer Circles meet via Zoom on a monthly basis and are facilitated spaces.  Participation is open to all farmers who are organic curious, in transition, and already certified. OFA membership is not required to participate.

Collective Farmer Circle

• The Collective Farmer Circle is a standing monthly community meeting open to all. This Circle aims to serve as a landing space for folks to come and learn about OFA, connect organic farmers across the country, and discuss what’s happening in the field.  This circle may offer conversational focus around national programs, farmer challenges, etc. and is facilitated by the Farmer Services Director. 

Identity-Based Farmer Circles

In the same way that biological diversity is foundational to the healthy agricultural systems we support, we recognize that diversity of people makes the organic movement healthier and more sustainable.  Access to the organic movements and to organic certification has not been equal across racial groups: systematic racism has kept our movement from reaching its full potential. 

Identity Farmer Circles create intentional, intimate spaces of collective care where farmers come together to find connection, support, and inspiration among farmers within their same identities. Through shared community, we welcome all farmers in the organic movement.  These circles are facilitated by members of the identity and restricted to farmers and landworkers of that same identity, and will not be recorded in recognition of the need for protected space.

• The Black Farmer Circle is a dedicated space for Black farmers and landworkers to come together in community to build relationships, share resources and knowledge, and discuss challenges and opportunities that pertain to Black farmers interested in navigating and engaging within organic. 
• The Hispanic/Latino* Farmer Circle is a dedicated space for farmers and landworkers with a background from Latin America and the Caribbean to come together in community to build relationships, share resources and knowledge, and discuss challenges and opportunities that pertain to Hispanic/Latino farmers navigating and engaging within organic. This Circle is facilitated in English and/or Spanish, whichever the Circle prefers.
• The Queer Farmer Circle is a dedicated space for farmers and landworkers who self-identify with any identity under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella to come together in community to build relationships, share resources and knowledge, and discuss challenges and opportunities that pertain to Queer farmers interested in navigating and engaging within organic. 
• The Asian Farmer Circle is a dedicated space for Asian farmers to come together in community to build relationships, share resources and knowledge, and discuss challenges and opportunities that pertain to Asian farmers navigating and engaging within organic.
• The Indigenous* Farmer Circle is a dedicated space for Indigenous farmers, land protectors, and stewards to come together in community, share knowledge, and support one another while navigating and/or engaging with the organic space.

*We use the term “Indigenous” as adapted from the NDN Collective: “Peoples as ethnic communities whose direct ancestral lineage descends from the earliest, original inhabitants of a given region, in contrast to groups that have settled, occupied, and/or colonized the region more recently. The land on which we live and the natural resources on which we depend are inextricably linked to our identities, cultures, livelihoods, as well as our physical and spiritual well-being. The estimated Indigenous population is approximately 370 million people worldwide (5% of the global population). We use Indigenous peoples with an “s” to recognize the diversity of individuals and groups that identify with the term, which has been distilled to a singular noun throughout history in an attempt to group our people together rather than recognize our differences and diversity. This is consistent with the UN Declaration on The Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Based on this definition, do you identify as Indigenous to the Turtle Island/the U.S. (including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico), Mexico, or Canada?

*We use the term “Hispanic/Latino”  to represent people who come from, or have family roots coming from, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the United States, two terms are most frequently used, sometimes interchangeably: Hispanic, and some variation of Latino, Latina, or Latinx.  These terms aim to represent a diverse group of people (19% of U.S. population (2023)), representing diverse cultures and languages.  While farmers may connect more with one of these terms, or their country-of-origin, for the purposes of the Farmer Circle, we are using the term Latino, which is the term used by the National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association.

Complete this Interest Form to join any of the Farmer Circles.

If a Farmer Circle is not currently offered that interests you, please email Racial Equity Project Manager Ryann Monteiro at ryann(at)organicfarmersassociation.org.