Honoring Oregon’s Organic Leaders
Each year, Oregon Organic Coalition honors visionaries in organic agriculture who make outstanding contributions to the growth and success of Oregon’s organic sector.
Oregon Organic Coalition’s Awards for Excellence recognizes individuals and organizations whose vision, leadership, and innovation strengthen Oregon’s organic food and farming movement. Honorees include farmers, processors, retailers, educators, researchers, policymakers, and advocates who go above and beyond in advancing organic integrity and sustainability.
Nominate an Organic Leader!
Do you know someone who is making a lasting impact in Oregon’s organic community?
We welcome nominations for individuals, organizations, farms, businesses, researchers, educators, policymakers, and advocates who demonstrate outstanding contributions to Oregon’s organic sector.
NOMINATE NOWNominees must:
Be based in Oregon or have a demonstrated impact on Oregon’s organic industry
Uphold organic principles and practices in alignment with USDA Organic certification standards
Exhibits leadership, innovation, and commitment to the advancement of organic agriculture
Nominees may work in any part of the organic food system: production, processing, distribution, education, or policy.
SUBMIT A NOMINATIONCategories
For 2025, the OOC invites nominations in ten categories, each representing a critical segment of the organic food and fiber system. Award recipients will be selected based on their demonstrated achievements and their commitment to the core organic principles of health, ecology, fairness, and care. Nominators are encouraged to provide specific examples of the nominee’s activities and accomplishments that demonstrate their leadership, innovation, and service within the organic community. All nominations will be reviewed by the OOC’s Nominations Committee, composed of members of the organic trade and community. Final awardees will be selected for having significantly advanced Oregon’s organic movement through excellence in their field.
Farm: Field, Fiber and Orchard Crops
Presented to a farm that exemplifies the development of standards and practices that promote soil health, biodiversity, and organic cropping systems. The recipient consistently produces highly nutritious and toxic-free foods and fibers.
Farm: Livestock
Awarded to a livestock producer or organization that demonstrates outstanding development and application of organic standards and practices for animal welfare. This includes excellence in areas such as animal nutrition, access to pasture, holistic pasture management, preventative health care, and humane treatment and slaughter, often exceeding National Organic Program requirements.
Farm: Equitable Working Conditions
Recognizes a farm or organization that sets a high standard in supporting farmworkers. Criteria include fair wages, quality housing, access to training, and a safe and respectful working environment. The award also considers the treatment of apprentices, interns, and other contracted farmworkers.
Scientist/Researcher/Conservationist
Honors an individual or organization contributing significantly to the organic movement through scientific research, conservation efforts, or technical support. Their work leads to improvements in organic practices, sustainability, environmental stewardship, and understanding of organic systems.
Organic Advocate
Awarded to an individual or organization that actively promotes organic agriculture and resilient regional food systems. This may include legislative advocacy, educational campaigns, community organizing, marketplace events, or public storytelling that elevates the visibility and importance of organics.
Processor/Distributor/Handler
Presented to an organization that plays a critical role in linking producers to retail markets (stores, restaurants, caterers, home delivery), through ethical and efficient processing, distribution, and post-harvest handling. The recipient supports organic integrity and offers promotional support for local and regional producers.
Retailer
Recognizes a retail business that prioritizes local and regional organic products, educates consumers, and cultivates strong relationships with Oregon’s organic farmers and ranchers. Their programs contribute to a thriving organic marketplace.
Restaurant/Chef/Caterer
Awarded to a foodservice professional or establishment that consistently delivers high-quality organic meals, while also serving as a conduit between eaters and producers. This award honors efforts to educate diners about organic ingredients and encourage the integration of Oregon-grown organic products into everyday life.
Public Service Award
Presented to an individual who has contributed to the organic sector through service in public institutions such as government agencies, education systems, or nonprofit advocacy. Their work helps shape policy, build infrastructure, and supports the organic trade at the community, state, or national level.
Legacy
This award celebrates an individual whose career has been devoted to building, defending, and expanding the organic movement. Through decades of work—often across multiple roles—they have demonstrated enduring commitment, helping shape educational frameworks, regulatory systems, and market opportunities for organic growers, producers, and consumers.
2025 Timeline
Nominations Open
June 24, 2025
Nominations Close
August 8, 2025 (by 11:59 PM PST)
Honorees Notified
Late August
Awards Presented
Awards for Excellence Luncheon during Organically Grown in Oregon Week (September 9, 2025) – Invitation only
Evaluation Criteria
A volunteer committee of organic stakeholders reviews all submissions using the following criteria:
Innovation
Service
Expansion
Achievement
Tip: Be thoughtful and specific in your nomination—strong nominations include clear examples, data (if relevant), and personal stories that show the nominee’s contributions.
How it Works
Meet the 2024 Honorees
Farmworker
Laura Bennet
Laura Bennett has been working on local organic farms and as a connector in her community for fifteen years and joined the Eloisa team in spring of 2021. Eloisa Organic Farm is owned by Virginia Herrera and Zenon Ramirez. Originally from Atoyaquillo, Oaxaca, both worked at Spring Hill Organic Farm for nearly twenty years before the owner retired and offered up an ownership opportunity to the families who had been working the land. The farm is named after Virginia’s mother, Eloisa and carries a legacy of strong women in agriculture. This farm’s story also joins a larger narrative in Oregon about the next generation of farmworkers who are becoming farm owners.
Eloisa is based out of Albany, Oregon and specializes in growing hot peppers, beloved Oaxacan varieties, and a wide selection of fresh seasonal produce sought after by farmers market shoppers, wholesalers, and Portland chefs.
Laura works with farm owner Virginia, to manage the farm’s sales, farmers markets, social media, and CSA program. She also teaches classes through her business, the Vegucation Station, and is working with a diaspora from Santiago Nuyoo, Oaxaca to help establish a new community farming project, Ejido Oso.
Farmer, Livestock & Dairy
Danny Wilcox
Wilcox Family Farms is a 115 year old family farm based in Roy, Washington. Wilcox Farms specializes in producing high-quality, sustainable, and local eggs for Northwest customers.
Wilcox Farms has pioneered sustainable farming practices, from being early adopters of organic eggs, to rotationally grazed and certified regenerative pasture hens, to using recycled household food waste in hen diets.
Wilcox Farms products are sold in every major retailer in the northwest and the vast majority of eggs are sold less than 100 miles from where they are laid.
Farmer, Crops
Siri & Sons
Siri & Son Farms, a fourth-generation family farm nestled in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, has been committed to sustainable farming practices for over 80 years. In 2005, the farm transitioned to organic methods, furthering our dedication to environmental stewardship. Located just outside of Portland, we focus on growing high-quality produce with an emphasis on premium flavor and ecological responsibility.
We believe that when people buy local produce, they are supporting the local economy, helping to protect local farmland, and are getting the freshest and most healthful produce possible. We believe that if people truly understood and valued where and how their food is grown, they would recognize the difference they could make on our planet.
We feel that maintaining the connection between consumer and farmer and supporting
organic, local, sustainable farms are our best defense for food security.
Legacy
Lynn Coody
Lynn S. Coody became an active participant in the organic community in 1974 with an apprenticeship on Maplevale Organic Farm. Since then, she served in many leadership positions in Oregon, with multiple national organic groups, and internationally with IFOAM. Lynn is proud to have been a founder of, and active contributor to, Oregon Tilth, Organic Materials review Institute, Oregon Organic Coalition, and Western Alliance of Certification Organizations.
In 1982, Lynn established Organic Agsystems Consulting, focused on assisting domestic and international certifiers in complying with USDA NOP accreditation requirements. In 2019, Organic Trade Association honored Lynn with its Leadership Award for Growing the Organic Community. In 2020, Lynn received the Ecological Farming Association’s Sustie Award, which “honors those who have been actively and critically involved in ecologically sustainable agriculture.”
Lynn has also received numerous other awards for her long-time commitment to the organic sector, and recently resettled in northern Vermont to live near her son and daughter-in-law.
Public Service
Dan Rayfield
Dan Rayfield is an experienced attorney and former Speaker of the Oregon House. He currently serves as state representative for Oregon House District 16, encompassing Oregon State University and Corvallis, where he lives with his wife Amanda and son Adam.
As Speaker, Dan delivered for Oregonians by passing laws to expand access to health care, increase funding for public schools, increase the minimum wage, and make our justice system more accountable and effective.
In 2023, Dan stepped down as Speaker for a successful run for Oregon Attorney General in the 2024 election.
Researcher
James Cassidy
James Cassidy has been an Instructor of Soil Science at Oregon State University for over 20 years. His introductory Soil Science class now has over 100 students each term and is very popular. James is the founder and faculty advisor for the wildly popular OSU Organic Growers Club – OSU’s student farm.
Coming from a non-traditional background, 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 its listserv and continues to grow.
Over 25,000 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 beginning its 25th season.
Advocate
Jeff Fairchild
Starting in the industry 40 years ago, I have been lucky to have found an occupation that I feel makes a difference in the world. I began my career at Natures Food and Tool, then moving to New Seasons as a founder, landing at Organically Grown Company in 2023. My job has included buying all the produce for Natures and now New Seasons, merchandizing and now supporting alternative businesses as a member of OGC.
Working as a produce manager, buyer, and merchandiser has given me a unique opportunity to see the produce industry from so many sides, allowing me to be helpful to growers, wholesalers, and retailers in a rewarding way! I am so lucky!!
Handler
Cafe Mam
Café Mam is a family-owned and operated coffee company based in Eugene, Oregon. Our roots grow deep in organic agriculture, and our foundation is built on principles of ethical sourcing, sustainability, environmentalism, cultural identity, human dignity, and of course, high-quality, freshly roasted coffee.
Since our inception in 1990, we have only sourced 100% certified organic, fairly traded, and shade-grown coffee from producer cooperatives in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico.
As importers, we communicate and trade directly with the producers; there are no intermediaries in our supply chain. This has made for longstanding relationships built from a place of mutual trust and respect and strengthened by mutual support. It has also allowed us to pay the cooperatives well above the fair trade minimum price for their coffee, while additionally being able to offer high-quality, freshly roasted, organic coffee at a price that is accessible to everyone.
OOC Award for Excellence Past Recipients
Join us in recognizing the distinguished individuals and organizations who have been honored with the OOC Award for Excellence. Discover their remarkable contributions and inspiring achievements that have made a lasting impact.
VIEW PAST AWARD RECIPIENTSOur Members
We are proud to partner with the following organizations.
OOC is a proud member of the Oregon Community Food Systems Network and often collaborates with various other member organizations.