Policy Committee
The Policy Committee is a volunteer committee elected by their organic farmer peers to direct the policy process of Organic Farmers Association. Each region is represented by two certified organic farmers and one regional organic farm organization. Members are elected by OFA farm-members and serve 2-year terms, up to three consecutive terms. Only our certified organic farm members on the Policy Committee have voting rights, while the organization representatives serve an important advisory role.
Farmers – Voting
California Region Farmer Representatives
Mark Schlesinger, Farmer
Little Paradise Farm, Sonoma, CA
Zach Cahill, Farmer
Cahill Organic Dairy, Ferndale, CA
Midwest Region Farmer Representatives
Scott Myers, Farmer – Chair
Woodlyn Acres Farm, LLC, Dalton, OH
Harold Wilken, Farmer
Janie’s Farm, Danforth, IL
Western Region Farmer Representatives
Nathaniel Powell-Palm, Farmer
Cold Springs Organics, Bozeman, MT
Linley Dixon, Farmer
Adobe House Farm, Durango, CO
Southern Region Farmer Representatives
Michael Appel, Farmer
Three Springs Farm, Oaks, OK
Steven Beltram, Farmer
Tendwell Farm, Asheville, NC
North Central Region Farmer Representatives
Andrew Olson, Farmer
Prime Pastures Organic Dairy, Lewiston, MN
Russell Olson, Farmer
River Valley Organics, Inc, Garner, IA
Northeast Region Farmer Representatives
Seth Kroeck, Farmer
Crystal Spring Farm/Maquoit Wild Blueberries, Brunswick, ME
Doug Murphy, Farmer
Murphy’s Grass Farm, Sherman, NY
Advisory – Non-Voting
California Region Organization Representative
Grace Jackson, Organic Certification Specialist
Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Davis, CA
Midwest Region Organization Representative
Milo Petruziello, Policy Director
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Columbus, OH
Western Region Organization Representative
Melissa Spear, Executive Director,
Tilth Alliance, Seattle, WA
Southern Region Organization Representative
Roland McReynolds, Executive Director
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Pittsboro, NC
North Central Region Organization Representative
Iowa Organic Association, Des Moines, IA
Northeast Region Organization Representative
Maddie Kempner, Policy Director
NOFA-VT, Richmond, VT
