The Vital Services Provided by OEFFA’s Sustainable Agriculture Educators
Guest post written by former OEFFA Sustainable Agriculture Educator, Johnnie Speicher. Originally published in the Summer 2025 OEFFA Newsletter.
OEFFA has long been an important partner, resource, and voice for the sustainable agriculture community. One of the most frequently consulted positions at OEFFA is that of the Sustainable Agriculture Educator, or SAE. Thanks in part to greater investment in sustainable agriculture from the federal government, OEFFA has been able to expand the SAE positions and the support provided to our agricultural community.
This position covers a lot of ground (figuratively and literally). The main purpose of an SAE is to provide technical assistance to anyone who calls with a question, need, or idea. Whether you are a backyard gardener, long-time farmer, beginning farmer, concerned community member, large-scale processor, small-scale farmer, or anything in between, we are here to field your questions and do our best to find you answers or resources. With an expansive background in agriculture, we cover a large knowledge base of topics. We also love what we do.
Lately, funding for the critical work of the SAEs has come through two main federal funding sources, the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) and the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Program (CSAF). These programs fueled technical assistance, a mentorship program, and direct payments to farmers. With the recent cancellation of a CSAF grant that funded parts of OEFFA’s programs, the ability to provide continued technical assistance is at risk.
The SAE role at OEFFA and within agriculture is vital. We fill a gap that sometimes extension programs or the USDA cannot fill. Those who call us trust us to listen, provide advice, find resources, and be creative in solutions to sustainable farming practices.
Our ability to provide farmers with needed on-demand technical assistance is crucial for the maintenance and expansion of sustainable agricultural practices in Ohio and around the country. We take great pride in supporting a vibrant and sustainable American food system.
Even if you aren’t a farmer but care about where your food comes from, we are still here for you. Our team is as passionate about this work as our farmers, members, and communities. We come to work to help people thrive through healthy food and farming.
Like many of our colleagues in the sustainable agriculture sector, we risk not being able to do this great work to support communities through healthy food and farming. As the USDA workforce dwindles, the capacity to serve America’s agricultural communities suffers. We want to step up and fill the gap.
The USDA offices and sub-branches have long been partners of OEFFA and our network. Many of our farmers work with the USDA on essential farm activities and access to funding opportunities to strengthen their farming enterprises. With staff at the USDA already stretched thin, and cuts exacerbating that fact, our knowledge of USDA programs is crucial to farmers. Someone needs to be in their corner who can help them navigate resources and programs at the federal level.
While the outlook for small and mid-sized farms may look rough, and cuts to funding of agriculture programs are occurring, OEFFA’s mission to help sustainable and organic farmers thrive remains. Despite cuts to our funding and troubling outlooks, we continue to support our community and provide the best service our members and community have come to expect.
As we rally around our farms to support them amidst this uncertainty, we hope our community is willing to do the same for us and support us in these challenging times. Farming is described as a career of uncertainty from day to day and year to year. Our mission is to be one thing in our farmers’ lives that is certain. When you need us, we will be here.
To learn more about OEFFA’s SAEs and contact them, visit oeffa.org/support.