Fall Interns Join OFA to Gain Hands-On Experience in Organic
The Organic Farmers Association has welcomed three new interns to the team this fall! The interns will have a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of organic agriculture advocacy. They will not only gain valuable insights into the principles and practices of organic farming, but will also actively contribute to OFA’s mission of elevating and uniting farmer voices.
The interns are part of the fall 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!
Amanda Ohnmacht
Farmer Services 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.
Aparna Nidamanuri
Communications Intern
Aparna currently lives in Illinois, where she was born and raised. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2024, with a BS in Agriculture and Food Business Management. While in school she interned both in the public and private sectors and was able to narrow down her interest in sustainable movements after being exposed to many facets of the food system. For the past year she did Americorps, serving the communications and development team of a non profit food hub in Rhode Island that primarily focused on building market opportunities for local producers, and promoting local eating. Right now she is studying for the GRE, and hopes to eventually get a masters degree in economics.
Assata Makonnen
Policy Intern
Assata is a sophomore at the University of Maryland College Park, where she pursues a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy with a minor in Sustainability Studies. On campus, she is a member of the environmental science and policy student advisory board ENSPire, the Jimenez-Porter Writers’ House, the University Student Judiciary, Maryland Mock Trial, and serves as the head of the UMD Chapter of the nationwide organization, Plant Futures Initiative. She is particularly passionate about the intersection between the natural world and people/society, which is what led her to join the Organic Farmers Association. Through pursuing a career in environmental law, she hopes to advocate for marginalized voices within the environmental community and push for a revision of current food systems to prioritize organic, regenerative, and sustainable living.
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.