Registration is open for Ohio’s largest sustainable agriculture conference. Now in its 46th year, this three-day event brings together hundreds of farm and food advocates from across the nation.

The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association’s (OEFFA) annual conference, Boldly Grow, will be Feb. 13-15, 2025, at Cherry Valley Hotel and Ohio Event Center in Newark.

The OEFFA conference has a long history of providing high-quality programming in support of sustainable and organic farming in Ohio and beyond,” said OEFFA Executive Director Khara Strum. “We are looking forward to creating community with farmers, consumers, and advocates through workshops and curated social activities.”

Online registration is now open at conference.oeffa.org.

Keynote speaker

Gary Nabhan is an Arab-American agroecologist, foodshed restorationist, and internationally celebrated nature writer. Born in the Midwest, he worked on farms and prairie restoration projects there before moving to Arizona. He has been honored with a James Beard Award, a MacArthur Genius Award Fellowship, and lifetime achievement awards from Slow Food, Chef’s Collaborative, Edible Communities, and other professional societies.

Food and Farm School Classes

These five full-day classes are intended for added in-depth learning on the 13th:

Intentional Investment: Maximizing Your Time and Dollars for Lasting Impact - Holistic Management International will share a management framework to help make the most impactful investment with your time and money.

Organic Farmer Researcher Network DIY Research – Farmers, researchers, and educators will discuss farmer-led research ideas and resources.

Organic System Plan Help-Shop – OEFFA educators and certification specialists will guide those planning to certify organic for the first time.

Farm Succession School: Planning for the Future of Your Farm – Speakers from Land For Good and Ohio State University will dive into the key components of crafting your farm succession plan.

Wholesale for All Scales – A wholesale buyer will explore food safety, as well as their requirements and processes for mid-scale growers to enter the market.

Workshops, Food, Networking, and More

A busy schedule of workshops, demonstrations, shopping, and more is offered during the conference, including:

More than 50 workshops on sustainable farming, livestock, homesteading, gardening, and business, covering topics ranging from perennial vegetables to drought mitigation;

An exhibit hall packed with dozens of businesses, nonprofits, and products, plus flash demonstrations;

Dedicated spaces for BIPOC farmers, queer farmers, landseekers, and landowners to connect and share;

Opportunities to socialize, including a seed swap, writers meetup, open mic night, and happy hours; and

Locally sourced meals, a Kids’ Conference, a Farmers’ Market Vendor Fair, a film screening, a raffle, and more.

Conference registration includes access to both the in-person event and to recordings of the keynote and workshop sessions. Early bird pricing, scholarships, and volunteer opportunities are available until Jan. 10. Online registration closes on Feb. 1.

For more information, and to register by Feb. 1, visit conference.oeffa.org.