The Organic Trade Association (OTA) honored eight individuals for their longstanding commitment to advancing the organic movement during last night’s annual leadership awards event. Held at OTA’s annual Organic Week conference, the award ceremony recognized leaders for driving and sustaining the growth of the organic industry on farms and in their communities, while prioritizing the benefits to people and the planet.
The distinguished 2025 Organic Leadership Award Honorees are:
- Organic Champion: The Honorable Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture
- Organic Lifetime Achievement: Albert Straus, Straus Family Creamery; and David Lively, Organically Grown Company
- Organic Farmers of the Year: Chris and Marcie Baugher, Baugher Ranch Organics
- Organic Environmental Leadership: Charlotte Vallaeys, Principal, Vallaeys Consulting LLC
- Organic Trailblazer: Nicole Atchison, CEO, PURIS
- Organic Social Impact: Tony Bedard, CEO, Frontier Co-op
“This esteemed list is a testament to the inspirational leadership and innovation abundant in the organic industry, and we are extremely grateful for the unwavering passion and commitment of these award recipients,” said Matthew Dillon, Co-CEO of Organic Trade Association. “We are proud to celebrate their significant achievements and look forward to their future contributions to drive the organic movement.”
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