SPEAKERS
Keynote Speaker:
Leah Penniman
Founding Co-ED and Farm Director, Soul Fire Farm
Leah Penniman is a Black Kreyol farmer, author, mother, and food justice activist who has been tending the soil and organizing for an anti-racist food system for 25 years. She currently serves as founding co-ED and Farm Director of Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, New York, a Black & Brown led project that works toward food and land justice. Her books are Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm's Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land (2018) and Black Earth Wisdom: Soulful Conversations with Black Environmentalists (2023). Find out more about Leah’s work at www.soulfirefarm.org and follow her @soulfirefarm on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Keynote Speaker:
Valerie Segrest
Co-Founder, Tahoma Peak Solutions and Former Regional Director, Native Food and Knowledge Systems, Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF)
Valerie Segrest, an enrolled member of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, and works as a Native Nutrition Educator and is the Co-Founder of Tahoma Peak Solutions, a consulting company that specializes in strategic communications and food systems strategies that serve tribal communities. She has a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Health Sciences from Bastyr University and a Master of Arts in Environment and Community. Ms. Segrest has dedicated her work in the field of Native American Nutrition towards the efforts of the food sovereignty movement rooted in education, awareness and overcoming barriers to accessing traditional foods for tribal communities throughout North America. Ms. Segrest has co-authored several publications, including “Feeding Seven Generations: A Salish Cookbook” and “Indigenous Home Cooking: Menus Inspired by the Ancestors”.
Valerie aims to inspire and enlighten others about the importance of a nutrient-dense diet through a culturally appropriate, common sense approach to eating.
Keynote Speaker:
Instructor, College of Agricultural Sciences and Faculty Advisory, Organic Growers Club (Student Farm), Oregon State University
James Cassidy
James Cassidy has been an Instructor of Soil Science and Sustainable Agriculture at Oregon State University for over 20 years. The introductory soils class now has over 100 students each term . James is also the faculty advisor for the wildly popular OSU Organic Growers Club - OSU's student farm. Coming from a non-traditional background (the music industry for over 40+ years), he is passionate about soil and popular with students because of his dynamic speaking style. The student farm project has over 300 student volunteers on its list-serve and continues to grow. The farm cultivates over 50 different fruit and vegetable crops and is just beginning its 25th season.
Keynote Speaker:
Jennifer Tucker
Deputy Administrator – National Organic Program (USDA/AMS)
Jennifer Tucker, Ph.D., was named Deputy Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program on June 21, 2018. She served as Associate Deputy Administrator of the National Organic Program from 2011-2018. Before joining USDA, she served as a program manager and group facilitator, working primarily with scientific and technical government and non-profit organizations. Jennifer 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.
Keynote Speaker:
Brenna Davis
Chief Executive Officer, Organically Grown Company
Brenna Davis, M.S. is an organic food advocate, sustainable business expert, environmental scientist, and CEO of a mission-driven food company. Her work has been featured on every major news network, including live morning television. She is the two-time #1 International Bestselling Author of She’s a Boss and Hello Success and was featured in Global Chorus: 365 Voices on the Future of the Planet. She is a sought out public speaker on national and international stages, including at the Obama White House, at international climate events, and on a panel facilitated by Vice President Al Gore.2025 SESSION Speakers
Janaki
Anagha
Director of Advocacy, Community Water Center
Jo Ann
Baumgartner
Executive Director, Wild Farm Alliance
Rodrigo
Bedoya
Co-Founder, La Grama
Tom
Chapman
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Organic Trade Association
Evan
Domsic
Graduate Research Assistant, Soil Health and Sustainable Seed Systems Lab , Department of Crop and Soil Science, Washington State University
Mike
Dill
Director of Advocacy and Sustainability, Organically Grown Company
David
Gould
Senior Sustainability Advisor
Ashley
Dulaney
Communications Director, Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)
Dan
Kent
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Salmon Safe
Kendra
Klein
Deputy Director of Science, Friends of the Earth
Krista
Kinder
Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Organically Grown Company
Peter
Koehler
Founder and Partner, Lumo Group
Alan
Lewis
Vice President Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, Natural Grocers
Matt
Landi
Vice President of Industry Relations, Organic Trade Association
Monique
Kirby
Senior Account Representative, Organically Grown Company
Laura
Lewis
Executive Director, Organic Seed Alliance
Nate
Lewis
Conservation Manager, Farmer, NOSB member, Washington Farmland Trust
David
Lively
Pioneer Emeritus, Organically Grown Company
Andrew
Lower
Sr. Director of Operations, MegaMex Foods
Jessica
Luhning
Senior Sustainability Manager, Organic Valley
Humberto
Maldanado
Safety & Compliance Manager, Organically Grown Company
Lucas Nesbert
Organic Seed and Planting Stock Extension Specialist, Oregon State University Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems
James
Myers
Professor of Vegetable Breeding and Genetics, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University
Brigid
Meints
Organic Grains and Pulses Extension Specialist, Oregon State University Center for Small Farms & Community Food Systems
Justin
Overdevest
Practice Lead - Climate and ESG, Parametrix
Athena
Petty
Senior Manager of Sustainability, New Seasons Market
Roberto
Ortiz
General Manager, PRAGOR
Natalie
Reitman-White
Sustainable Food & Ag Purpose Trust Committee Member & Principal, Purpose Owned
ScotT
Rice
Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, Organic Trade Association
Nate
Powell-Palm
First Generation Organic Farmer, Owner & Consultant, Cold Springs Organics, LLC
Chris
Schreiner
Chief Executive Officer, Oregon Tilth
Amber
Sciligo
Director of Science Programs, The Organic Center
Kia
Ruiz
Environmental and Economic Resiliency Consultant
Asha
Sharma
State Policy Manager, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability
Aimee Simpson
Chief Executive Officer and Founding Counsel, Sustainability Law & Strategies PLLC
Johanna
Phillips
Director of Business Development and Technical Affairs, Strengthening Organic Systems (SOS)
Jon
Steinman
Author, Grocery Story: The Promise of Food Co-ops in the Age of Grocery Giants
Thelma
Velez
Director of Research and Education, Organic Farming Research Foundation
Melissa
SPear
Executive Director, Tilth Alliance
Rebekah
Weber
Policy Director, CCOF Inc.
Kevin
White
Sr. Account Manager, K&S Recycling
Daniella Velazquez
de Loan
General Manager, Organics Unlimited
Tom
Wright
Principal, Table 2 Farms
Gwendolyn
Wyard
Founding Partner, Strengthening Organic Systems (SOS)
Amy
Wong
Coalition Director, Oregon Organic Coalition
Abby
Youngblood
Executive Director, National Organic Coalition