2027
SPEAKERS
Mainstage Speakers
Keynote Speaker:
Qiddist Ashé
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Black Oregon Land Trust
Qiddist Ashé is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Black Oregon Land Trust, Oregon’s first Black-led community land trust. Through BOLT, she works to secure land access, protect ecosystems, and cultivate earth stewardship skills that support thriving land-based futures for Black communities across Oregon. In the past four years, BOLT has protected over 100 acres of land, supported dozens of farmers, and grown a powerful model of community-held land stewardship rooted in food sovereignty, cultural memory, ecological care, and intergenerational resilience. Born and raised in Oregon, Qiddist brings a multidisciplinary background in traditional midwifery, women’s health, education, and policy to her leadership. Across these fields, her work has always centered the same essential question: what conditions do communities need in order to live, heal, belong, and thrive?
Keynote Speaker:
James Cassidy
Senior Instructor Oregon State University, Dept. Crop and Soil Science
James Cassidy has been an Instructor of Soil Science at Oregon State University for over 20 years. The introductory class now has over 100 students each term and is very popular. James is also the founder and faculty advisor for the wildly popular OSU Organic Growers Club - OSU's student farm. Coming from a non-traditional background (music industry for over 40+ years) he is passionate about soil and is popular with students because of his dynamic speaking style. The student farm project has over 300 student volunteers on it's listserv and continues to grow. Over 30,000 students have participated in the farm’s programs. The farm is largely self-supported through produce sales and cultivates over 50 different fruit and vegetable crops and is just winding down it's 26th season.
Keynote Speaker:
Jonalee Squeochs
Interim General Manager, Yakama Nation Farms
Jonalee is currently the interim General Manager of Yakama Nation Farms. She is an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation and a graduate of Washington State University. Since May of 2022, Jonalee has been closely working to assist with the Yakama Nation’s efforts in transitioning their recently acquired 1,500-acre grow, pack, and ship produce farm in Wapato Washington, to tribal management. Yakama Nation Farms proudly grows 500 acres of certified organic and 1000 acres of conventionally grown row vegetables. The farm, previously owned and operated by the Inaba family for over 100 years, has been a longstanding contributor of high-quality, locally grown products to the regional Pacific northwest fresh produce distribution system.
Keynote Speaker:
Jennifer Tucker, PH.D.
Deputy Administrator, USDA National Organic Program
Dr. Jennifer Tucker has been Deputy Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program since June 2018. Before that, she was Associate Deputy Administrator of the NOP for seven years. Before joining USDA, she led organization development and technology consulting practices in the private sector. She earned a B.A. in Environmental Science from Wesleyan University, an M.S. in Management from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Virginia Tech.
Emcee:
Matthew Wellsandt
Quality Assurance Lead, Organically Grown Company
Matt Wellsandt has worked for Organically Grown Co. since 2019, primarily in leadership roles with operations and quality assurance. He has also served as a member of the sustainability committee; coordinating various recycling projects. In addition to his work with organic produce, Matt is a semi-professional comedian, performing in the Portland/Vancouver area. He has appeared in such acts as Magenta Improv Theatre, ComedySportz Rec League, “Medford Medical" and “Score!”Session Speakers
Nick Andrews
Professor of Practice and Organic Vegetable Extension Specialist, Oregon State University Center for Resilient Agriculture & Food Systems
Nick Andrews is a Professor of Practice in the new OSU Organic Agriculture program. He focuses on ecological and organic vegetable production, cover crops, nutrient management, and pest management. He joined OSU in 2005 serving as the Portland Metro-area Small Farms agent. In 2022 he started coordinating the Organic Agriculture program that includes pasture and forage, grains and pulses, tree fruit and nut, seeds and planting stock, and soil management specialists. He also serves as Secretary of the Western Cover Crops Council.
Megan Bassett
Having studied Latin American History & Politics and Spanish language at the University of Oregon and worked serving migrant families, Megan’s experience provides an engaging lens through which to view Café Mam’s 35-year relationship with producer-owned cooperatives in Chiapas, Mexico. Her presentations touch on themes including coffee’s exploitative colonial origins, the pivotal emergence of producer-owned cooperatives, sustainable agroforestry, and the inspiring emergence of SPP Global as a champion for small-scale and indigenous producers in the global fair trade arena. In addition, Megan has a 35 year career in public speaking and performing and is in her element in front of a room of people. With fresh photos and stories from her participation in Café Mam’s February 2025 trip to Chiapas, Megan will take you into the heart of the human story without which our daily cup would not exist. Community Liaison, Café Mam Coffee
Thaddeus Barsotti
Born and raised on a small organic truck farm in rural Yolo County of California, Thaddeus grew up working the farm with rural working-class folks and hawking high priced organic produce to affluent city folks at farmers’ markets as the organic foods movement gained traction in the 1980s and 90s. He and his brothers would inherit the small farm, Capay Fruits & Vegetables and the small CSA, Farm Fresh To You when their mother passed in 2000. Over the next two decades Thaddeus and his brothers successfully scaled the business to the largest of its kind, employing over one thousand people and delivering millions of boxes of fresh organic produce annually across the West Coast. Thaddeus currently manages a portfolio of food and agricultural related companies including a new marketplace Fillco.com and is the Chairmen of CCOF Board of Directors.Co-Owner, Capay Organic; Co-Founder, Farm Fresh to You; Author of Betting on the Farm: An Heirloom Childhood
Sam Bowhay
Sam Bowhay moved to Western Washington in 2011 to volunteer at a small farm. He fell in love with the never-ending problem solving that diversified vegetable farming demands, and continued to learn the trade by working with great mentors at Local Roots Farm and Ralph’s Greenhouse. Sam started First Cut Farm in 2019 with help from his wife, Linda Fenstermaker. First Cut Farm has steadily grown, selling certified organic potatoes, shallots, bok choy, green beans, cucumbers for the wholesale market. Sam serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Puget Sound Food Hub Cooperative.Owner, First Cut Farm
Ben Bowell
Ben oversees education programs, advocacy activities and partnerships at Oregon Tilth. He has worked for the organization for over 13 years, previously serving for many years as an Education Specialist in a joint position with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). He is responsible for program development and oversight, strategic leadership, development activities, and partner relationships. Ben serves on the Board of the Oregon Organic Coalition and the Governing Council of the Organic Farmers Association. Prior to Oregon Tilth, he worked for American Farmland Trust advocating for the protection and sustainability of working lands. He has a B.A. from Wake Forest University and an M.S. from Tufts University’s Agriculture, Food, and Environment Program. Ben lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife and two kids.Chief Program Officer, Oregon Tilth
CJ Bruce
CJ Bruce is the Founder and CEO of The Missing Ingredient, a marketing agency built for food, beverage, and produce brands. His team runs paid media, organic social, email, and influencer programs for companies ranging from emerging natural brands to national household names, including the Organic Trade Association, where TMI led media strategy and execution for a multi-year consumer campaign to grow organic adoption across the U.S. CJ's focus is the connection between marketing and business objectives: what a brand says, where it says it, and whether any of it actually changes what lands in the cart. He also hosts The Missing Ingredient Podcast, a weekly conversation with founders and leaders building high-impact food and beverage brands.Founder & CEO, The Missing Ingredient
David Bulindah
David was born in Kenya and migrated to the United States in 2000. Passionate about helping others, travel and new experiences. Enjoys the outdoors and empowering others. One of his mantras is: "What kind of legacy are we leaving behind? Let's make that legacy today." Executive Director Wakulima USA
Peter Bungum
Research and Education Manager, The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
Since 2014, Peter has helped the Organic Materials Review Institute fulfill its mission to provide expert input material review and industry education. He has played an instrumental role in developing a team that has created over 50 technical reports (and counting) on input materials for the National Organic Standards Board. He attributes his interest in organic farming to his mother, who always appreciated high quality organic produce, even before the creation of a national organic standard. Peter earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology at the University of Oregon, in Eugene. Before coming to OMRI, Peter worked as a farm worker, biological scientist, teacher, and metal fabricator. Peter loves to explore the world by engaging in many forms of outdoor recreation, including climbing, skiing, and hiking. He also loves to learn and often picks up new skills and interests such as ham radio operation and lockpicking.
Chris Bupp
Review Program Specialist, The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
Chris Bupp holds a B.S. in Environmental Science with a minor in Biology from the University of Oregon. He has a forestry background specializing in silviculture, reforestation, and seed orchard operations, and before joining OMRI he worked as a Silviculture Technician with the Bureau of Land Management and as an arborist for the Travis Tyrrell Seed Orchard. A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Chris enjoys hiking, fishing, foraging, and canoeing, and in his free time works on classic motorcycles, tackles home
improvement projects, and cultivates gourmet mushrooms.
Cara Burns
Application Program Specialist, The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
Cara Burns is an Application Specialist II on the Application Support team at OMRI. She has eight years of experience helping applicants and suppliers with new product applications, Annual Renewals and Ongoing Compliance applications. Cara can also help navigate the published organic guidelines to answer questions about allowed and prohibited materials.
Shannon Cappellazzi
Assistant Professor of Practice, OSU Center for Resilient Agriculture & Food Systems
Shannon is the Soil Health Extension Specialist in the Organic Agriculture Program at OSU. She has her roots in the beef cattle industry and found her love of all things related to soil biology while turning by-products into organic fertilizers. Her program focuses on helping producers apply practices that improve the soil's ability to function. This centers on supporting and utilizing the biological connections throughout the agroecosystem. 
Rebecca
Champagne, PhD
Conservation Scientist, Organization: The Organic Farming Research Foundation
Rebecca Champagne, Conservation Scientist at OFRF, was first introduced to organic farming as an undergraduate when she took a summer job on a farm. This gave her a deep appreciation for farming, and piqued her interest in research and a desire to help farmers tackle their most pressing issues. During her research career she led projects focused on organic weed management methods in row crops and vegetables, such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, tarping, flame weeding, cultivar selection, and optimized physical weed control. Rebecca later took her research skills and farming knowledge outside of academia, working for an ag-tech startup as an analyst before joining the non-profit world, where she uses her interdisciplinary research, farming, and policy background to advocate for and advance organic farming systems.
Doug Currier
Technical Director, The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
As OMRI’s Technical Director, Doug is responsible for standards and policy development including stakeholder outreach, leading OMRI’s subscribing certifier support, and OMRI’s educational activities. Doug has worked for OMRI since 2011, spending many years conducting reviews of brand name input products for use in organic production before transitioning to his current role in 2018. Doug holds an advanced degree in organic farming and lives in Eugene, Or.
Orsi Dezsi
Executive Director and CEO, The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
Orsi Dezsi is the Executive Director and CEO of the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), where she leads the organization’s strategy, culture, and continued evolution in service to the organic sector. With more than 20 years of experience in food contact material regulations, certification, and verification, she has worked closely with regulatory communities, industry stakeholders, and clients to navigate complex requirements while balancing compliance with practical needs. Orsi is passionate about building trusted systems, strengthening organizations, and helping OMRI adapt to the changing needs of the organic community.
Mike Dill
Director of Advocacy & Sustainability, Organically Grown Company
Mike Dill oversees organic trade advocacy and sustainability for Organically Grown Company, the Northwest’s largest organic produce distributor. He is the lead coordinator for the Organic Produce Wholesalers Coalition, representing organic wholesalers and growers to the National Organic Program, National Organic Standards Board and Legislators. Mike is also Vice-Chair of the Organic Trade Association’s Produce Sector Council and hold seats on the boards of the Oregon Organic Coalition (OOC), Washington’s Coalition for Organic and Regenerative Agriculture (CORA) and the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF). Mike’s 16 years of experience in the organic trade includes eight years managing food safety, compliance and policy and two years managing stakeholder engagement and advocacy for OGC, along with five years working as an organic inspector, Fair Trade inspector and certification officer for Oregon Tilth. Mike received his Food Science and Technology degree with minors in Horticulture and Chemistry from Oregon State University in 2007.
Evan Driscoll
Senior Business Consultant, Good Roots
Evan Driscoll has over a decade of experience in local food systems and small business development. He founded Sasquatch Acre, a diversified farm in Portland, OR, and later managed Green Gate Farms in Austin, TX. His work expanded into distribution and sales at Sustainable Food Center and procurement at Central Texas Food Bank. Evan also served as Director of Operations for Foodshed Investors and Executive Director of Texas Farmers Market. At Good Roots, he specializes in CFO services including financial analysis, strategic planning, and fundraising readiness. 
Levi Fredrikson
Consulting Associate, Wolf & Associates, Inc.
Evan Driscoll has over a decade of experience in local food systems and small business development. He founded Sasquatch Acre, a diversified farm in Portland, OR, and later managed Green Gate Farms in Austin, TX. His work expanded into distribution and sales at Sustainable Food Center and procurement at Central Texas Food Bank. Evan also served as Director of Operations for Foodshed Investors and Executive Director of Texas Farmers Market. At Good Roots, he specializes in CFO services including financial analysis, strategic planning, and fundraising readiness. Levi now serves the organic community through his role as a Consulting Associate at Wolf & Associates. He also manages 'Laden Boughs Nursery & Orchard' near Corvallis, OR that is transitioning to organic certification. 
Erick Garman
Trade Policy Specialist, Oregon Department of Agriculture
Erick Garman is a Trade Policy Specialist at the Oregon Department of Agriculture, focused on strengthening the competitiveness of Oregon’s food and agricultural products in domestic and international markets. He supports small- to mid-sized businesses by developing retail and distribution connections and promotional opportunities, while working with larger companies and commodity sectors on market access, trade policy, sales growth, and export and regulatory requirements.
Tina Jensen Augustine
Technical Operations Manager, The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
As one of the longest tenured members of OMRI, Tina has worn many hats since starting in 2006 as a Product Review Coordinator. She has worked in the OMRI Technical Department for over a decade, helping to produce numerous trainings, technical reports, and other resources for government, industry, and public stakeholders in the organic community. She currently manages the Technical Department operations, supervising a team of Technical Research Analysts and Administrative staff. Tina holds a master’s degree in forest soils and a bachelor’s degree in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology, both from the University of Washington, in Seattle. After 20 years on the west coast, Tina now lives in her hometown of Salt Lake City where she enjoys gardening, hiking, and keeping up with two teenagers.
Amanda Kauffman
Director of Client Services, Guru
Amanda Kauffman is a brand and client service leader known for building strategic partnerships that turn ambitious ideas into measurable impact. As Director of Client Services at Guru, she leads integrated marketing and communications initiatives for purpose-driven brands working to heal food systems. She has led strategy and planning for food movements, including the Organic Trade Association, Regenerative Organic Certification, and the Non-GMO Project, and has worked with dozens of leading organic consumer brands. Amanda is especially passionate about helping organizations clarify their voice, strengthen brand infrastructure, and create marketing that resonates culturally and emotionally. Known for connecting big-picture thinking with practical execution, she has guided teams and clients through complex growth and transformation initiatives while fostering a commitment to increase joy along the way.
Krista Kinder
Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Organically Grown Company (OGC)
A creative and collaborative leader with over 20 years’ experience in Brand Strategy and Marketing for B2B and B2C organizations large and small, Krista is passionate about creating magic and results for brands who want to do the right thing. Always learning and looking for the “why” in every project creates not just beautiful but smart and compelling work with purpose. Focused on using the power of creative to make a positive impact Krista has led work for companies, non-profit organizations, communities, and higher education clients such as: Nike, Global Fund for Women, Tillamook County Creamery Association, Linfield College, Starbucks Evolution Fresh, Umpqua Bank, The Nike Foundation, Mattel, Farmer Brothers Coffee, adidas Social Purpose, and many, many more. Growing the organic movement at Organically Grown Company is exciting and inspiring, and as a marketer, it feels so good to help support sustainable agriculture methods and bring people meaningful products that create happy, healthy people and planet.
Andrea Krahmer
Director of Ag Business Support, Oregon Agricultural Trust
Andrea's lifelong passion for agriculture began on her family's small farm in rural Oregon. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business Management from Oregon State University and began her career as an agricultural lender shortly after graduation. After 19 years of working with young, beginning, and small farmers in the lending sector, she transitioned to the nonprofit world, where she now provides agricultural business support to farmers and ranchers. Andrea leads workshops across Oregon on business planning, farm financial fundamentals, and succession planning. She also provides one-on-one technical assistance to agricultural producers and works with service providers who support farmers and ranchers through technical assistance. Andrea lives in Salem, Oregon with her family operating her own farm primarily raising goats and supporting both her kids who are very active in 4-H with their own livestock projects.
Nellie McAdams
Executive Director, Oregon Agricultural Trust
Nellie grew up farming alongside her parents as the third generation on her family’s hazelnut farm in Gaston, Oregon. She is an attorney with a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law. She is a long-time advocate for farm succession planning and farmland preservation, with a career rooted in nonprofit leadership and community engagement. In her early career, she served as the Next Generation Program Director at Friends of Family Farmers, and supported a coalition to pass the Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program at the state legislature. And she sits on the boards of 1000 Friends of Oregon and the Agricultural Law Section of the Oregon State Bar. As the founding Executive Director of Oregon Agricultural Trust, Nellie is dedicated to working collaboratively to keep Oregon a great place to farm and live by protecting farmland and supporting the future of agriculture. She currently resides in Portland with her family. 
Amy McCann
CEO, Local Food Marketplace
Amy co-founded Local Food Marketplace in 2009 to help level the playing field for local, sustainable food. Local Food Marketplace is the perfect blend of her two passions – local food and technology. As CEO, Amy focuses on bringing business best practices and innovative solutions to local food, including introducing the first and only white label mobile app for food hubs. Prior to founding LFM, Amy was the COO of a niche ERP technology company, leading record sales growth for over 5 years and a large-scale re-engineering effort. Amy holds a BSE from Princeton University and an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business Practices from University of Oregon. She is a former board member and Past President of Willamette Farm and Food Coalition, a Eugene-based non-profit. She was named 20 under 40 Rising Business Star by her peers in 2012. She lives and gardens in Eugene, OR with her husband, Matt, and two children, Cameron and Elliott.
Brigid Meints
Assistant Professor of Practice; Organic Grains and Pulses Specialist, Oregon State University
Brigid is an Assistant Professor of Practice and the Organic Grains and Pulses Extension Specialist with the OSU Center for Resilient Agriculture & Food Systems. Her research focuses on organic weed and pest management, breeding multi-use naked barley for organic systems, and developing early maturing dry beans for western Oregon. She grew up in Corvallis, OR and developed a love for plants at a young age. She earned a BA from Scripps College in Anthropology and Gender & Women’s Studies but found her way back to plants after graduation when she began working for the barley breeding program at OSU. She earned her MS from OSU in Crop Science with a focus in Plant Breeding & Genetics and completed her PhD in Crop Science at Washington State University. 
Lucas Nebert
Assistant Professor of Practice, OSU Center for Resilient Agriculture & Food Systems
Lucas Nebert is OSU's Statewide Extension Specialist in Organic Seed and Planting Stock, based in the OSU Organic Agriculture Program in Corvallis, OR. His work focuses on low-input production of seed and planting stock, data-informed decision-making for sourcing of seed and cultivars, as well as strategies to preserve, maintain, improve, and adapt diverse crop varieties into the future. He also manages a half-acre, part-time, organic farm in Corvallis called Dream Seed Farm. He applies ecological and evolutionary principles to farming, drawing upon a BA in biochemistry, graduate work in plant and soil microbial ecology, and postdoctoral work in dry-farmed vegetable production and plant breeding. 
Cameron Newell
Bee Better Program Manager, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
Cameron grew up on a farm in rural Victoria, Australia. It was there that he learnt the value of farming in tune with the land at a very young age. This connection to the land is why he chose his career path. He is trained in agriculture, pollination ecology and habitat restoration. At Xerces he works to build market based incentives to encourage pollinator conservation and biodiversity work in agriculture, support farmers and food companies in habitat creation projects and arm farm and food industry partners with the tools to communicate their work. At home he is the father of three of the next generation of conservationists and farmers. He likes to get them out into the wilds as often as he can.
Carrie-Anne Palmeri
Organic Program Manager, Nature's Path Organic Foods
Carrie-Anne Palmeri is Organic Program Manager at Nature's Path Organic Foods, where she leads the company's Organic Program across North America. With nearly 20 years of international experience in organic standards, agricultural development, policy advocacy, and regulatory affairs, she brings a systems-level perspective to the technical, policy, and market forces shaping the organic sector. Carrie-Anne serves as President of the Board of the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA), a Board Member of the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), and a Voting Member of the National Organic Coalition (NOC). She previously served on the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) and Mexico's National Council for Organic Production (CNPO). Her work is grounded in a long-standing commitment to advancing the integrity, accessibility, and resilience of organic agriculture.
Jarod Rhoades
Standards Manager, The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
Jarod has two decades of experience in various positions related to environmental sustainability and remediation, analytical chemistry, science education, and regulatory compliance. He draws from his unique background in geochemistry, water quality, scientific research, and technical writing to interpret organic food production regulations into accessible content for the greater community of organic farmers, certification agents, inspectors, and backyard gardeners. As OMRI’s Standards Manager, Jarod keeps a close eye on developments in agricultural practices, new agricultural input technologies, and government regulation.
Rob Smith
Executive Director, Viva Farms
Rob has 20+ years of experience in sustainable agriculture, farm business development, and social advocacy. As Executive Director of Viva Farms, a leading farm business incubator non-profit, he guides the organization's team, strategy and fulfillment of its mission. Previously, as Director of Programs and Operations, he helped build the organization's farmer-support programs, land, and infrastructure. He holds a BA in Politics and Latin American Studies from UC Santa Cruz. Off the farm, he enjoys biking, music-making, sailing, and skiing with his family.
Charlotte Vallaeys
Founder and Principal, Vallaeys Consulting
Charlotte Vallaeys is an organic food and agriculture expert with more than 20 years of experience working across the organic sector. Through Vallaeys Consulting, she provides scientific and regulatory analysis and strategic insights to help advance the organic sector. Her previous roles include Organic Expert at General Mills, Senior Policy Analyst at Consumer Reports, and Director of Food Policy at The Cornucopia Institute. She currently serves on the boards of Organic Voices and the Organic Farming Research Foundation and teaches Inside Organic, a professional development program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Andrew Yokom
Executive Director, Puget Sound Food Hub Cooperative
Andrew Yokom has spent the last seven years building one of the Pacific Northwest's most consequential local food enterprises. As Executive Director of the Puget Sound Food Hub Cooperative, Andrew leads a farmer-owned organization working directly with over 120 local producers to move fresh, regionally grown food into the hands of buyers across Western Washington. Under his leadership, PSFH has grown to over $12 million in annual revenue, delivering real economic returns to the farmer owners. Andrew believes a thriving local food economy is one of the most powerful levers we have — for environmental stewardship, community health, individual vitality, and fair livelihoods for the people growing our food. It's not one issue. It's the connective tissue between all the things we want our communities to be. PSFH is a founding member of the Northwest Food Hub Network, collectively providing market access for more than 200 farms across the region.More speakers coming soon.