Amplifying Farmers’ Voices in DC

Abundant cherry blossoms greeted our team in Washington last week. They arrived just in time for peak bloom. The weather was kind, and people from all over were out and about enjoying the brightly pungent ambassadors of spring. After a tumultuous few months, the vibrant trees offered a welcome bit of beauty and proudly declared a timely reminder of new beginnings.

Milo and Lauren, OEFFA’s policy director and grassroots policy organizer, went to the annual National Organic Coalition (NOC) fly-in. Our team was joined by farmers Bridget Burgess of Hirzel Farms and Charlie Eselgroth of Buckskin Valley Farms. In just a few days, the NOC delegation had Hill meetings with over 60 congressional offices and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials.

Every time our team heads to DC, we endeavor to bring farmers with us. Why? Farmers’ voices, stories, and experiences are THE MOST important advocacy tool we have.

Whether on Capitol Hill or back home in their offices, legislators are often far removed from the realities faced by America’s farmers. When they do get a taste of agriculture, it’s often funneled through big agriculture and agribusiness interests with deep pockets for lobbying.

Giving our elected officials a boots-on-the-ground look at how policies and programs impact small and mid-size producers is key to advancing legislation that supports sustainable and organic agriculture. It’s voices like Bridget’s and Charlie’s that make a huge impact on our advocacy efforts. Without having farmers at the table, meetings with members of Congress and representatives of the USDA just wouldn’t be the same.

These two Ohio farmers met with their members of Congress, making their voices heard about the programs and policies that can support organic and sustainable agriculture. They each shared about their respective farms, highlighting the positive aspects of organic agriculture.

Charlie is a lifelong dairy farmer who has been certified organic for 26 years. He and his wife, Jamie, are member/owners of Organic Valley/Cropp Cooperative, where they market their milk. Bridget is the compost, seed, and grain representative at Hirzel Farms, a fifth-generation family business. Environmental stewardship has remained a steadfast priority for Hirzel Farms, and they pride themselves on being at the forefront of soil health education and research.