Since its launch in 2022, the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) has been strengthening organic farming communities. This regional network provides mentorship, technical assistance, and wrap-around support for transitioning and existing organic producers.

OEFFA has been a proud partner in the Midwest TOPP region and our work in the program officially ended in June 2026. We are still happy to talk with farmers about transitioning to organic and share resources. You can also connect with an active TOPP organizational partner.

Technical Assistance

OEFFA also has dedicated sustainable agriculture educators on staff to answer questions about transitioning to organic.

Contact an OEFFA Educator

TOPP

General Program/Partnership Interest Form
TOPP Resources
TOPP Website

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		0 events 1 0 events, 1	1 event 2 1 event, 2 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm OOFRN Office Hours July 2 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm OOFRN Office Hours Got a research question? An idea you’d like to run past someone? Looking for a place to have a research discussion with others? Join the Ohio Organic Farmer Researcher Network (OOFRN) for virtual office hours. They can set up a private discussion room or just have a general chat. The Ohio Organic Farmer Researcher Network, a collaborative effort between OEFFA, Central State, and Ohio State.	0 events 3 0 events, 3	0 events 4 0 events, 4	0 events 5 0 events, 5
0 events 6 0 events, 6	0 events 7 0 events, 7	0 events 8 0 events, 8	1 event 9 1 event, 9 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm OEFFA at Common Greens Farmers’ Markets July 9 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm OEFFA at Common Greens Farmers’ Markets OEFFA will be tabling at the Community Booth at these Common Greens farmers’ markets around Columbus. Join us on these market dates to learn more about our work while supporting local producers! Upper Arlington Farmers’ Market - Wednesday, June 10 - 3-6 p.m. - 2151 Dorset Rd., Upper Arlington, OH 43221 Bexley Farmers’ Market - Thursday, July 9 - 4-7 p.m. - S Dawson Ave. and E Main St., Bexley, OH 43209 Clintonville Farmers’ Market - Saturday, August 22 - 9 a.m.-Noon - 3535 N High St., Columbus, OH 43214 Learn more about Common Greens’ farmers’ markets at commongreensohio.org.	0 events 10 0 events, 10	1 event 11 1 event, 11 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Composting Facility Tour July 11 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Composting Facility Tour Rust Belt Riders’ mission is to feed people, not landfills. They are a worker-owned cooperative that redirects food waste from landfills and converts it into nutrient-rich compost. This compost serves as the foundation of their Tilth Soil blends for farmers, home gardeners, houseplant parents, and everyone in between. This tour takes place at Rathlin Soils' compost site, where Rust Belt Riders is co-located. Walk through this composting facility and learn more about how diverting food from landfills supports our local food system. Register for this free tour here. This event is a part of the 2026 OEFFA Farm Tour Series.	0 events 12 0 events, 12
0 events 13 0 events, 13	0 events 14 0 events, 14	1 event 15 1 event, 15 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Forest Farming Site Evaluation Workshop July 15 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Forest Farming Site Evaluation Workshop Join Rural Action’s Forestry team to learn what conditions to look for when growing non-timber forest products (NTFP's). Are you interested in growing edible and medicinal plants on your land? Do you have the right growing conditions on your site? Learn about native forest botanicals, their preferred site conditions (slope, aspect, moisture, etc.), and indicator plants. We’ll discuss site preparation and cultivation methods, processing considerations, market opportunities, and value-adding options. We’ll also introduce you to some helpful mapping and production estimation tools. This workshop includes a classroom component and a hands-on field excursion. Please bring water and wear long pants and sturdy shoes. This event will take place at the Rural Action Forestry Office, address and parking information will be included in the confirmation email. For any questions or accessibility needs, please reach out to: lindsayrobertson@ruralaction.org Register here.	0 events 16 0 events, 16	0 events 17 0 events, 17	0 events 18 0 events, 18	0 events 19 0 events, 19
0 events 20 0 events, 20	2 events 21 2 events, 21 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Addressing ICE Activity in Farm Country July 21 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Addressing ICE Activity in Farm Country How are farmers fairing in these times of stress around the things that sustain them: community, labor, and financing? So much has changed, just as the fundamental challenges of agriculture and our food system remain the same. Join Farm Commons to explore what they're seeing from the ground. This informational session will be led by Rachel Armstrong with Farm Commons. Register at the link below., 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Policy and Pints: Columbus July 21 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Policy and Pints: Columbus Policy and Pints is a series of fun social events with OEFFA Policy’s team, offering a chance to network with food and farm policy leaders from across the state. Learn about the work they do to advance state and federal policy, hear about opportunities to plug into advocacy efforts, and engage with other changemakers. Connect with other advocates at each event and join a fun game of bingo for a chance to win a local product prize! A portion of purchases at each event will be donated to OEFFA. Columbus—Tuesday, July 21, 5-7 p.m. at Jackie O's Brewery (Jackie O's On Fourth), 171 N 4th St, Columbus, OH 43215 These free events are open to anyone interested in sustainable and organic agriculture and getting involved in policy advocacy. To learn more about OEFFA Policy’s events and work, visit action.oeffa.org, follow @oeffapolicy on Instagram, and reach out to policy@oeffa.org. This event is a part of the 2026 OEFFA Farm Tour Series. No pre-registration required.	0 events 22 0 events, 22	1 event 23 1 event, 23 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Farm Tour & Workshop: Blaney Family Farm July 23 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Farm Tour & Workshop: Blaney Family Farm Interested in learning what it takes to operate a diversified produce farm? Want to learn the ins and outs of high tunnel tomato production? Adam and Tabby Blaney started Blaney Family Farm in 2019 and have been growing a diversity of vegetables and flowers. They sell their products through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program where customers subscribe ahead of the season to receive a customizable box of vegetables each week. They also sell weekly at the Athens Farmers Market and to several wholesale accounts, including to Little Fish Brewery, Village Bakery, Lake Hope Lodge, and Kindred Market. This event will include both a farm tour and hands-on time learning about high tunnel tomatoes. Learn more and register here. $10	1 event 24 1 event, 24 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Poultry Processing Facility Tour July 24 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Poultry Processing Facility Tour J&J Poultry is a poultry processing facility in northwest Ohio. Each year, they process between 10,000 and 12,000 chickens. Farmer Jim Jacobs will give a tour of the facility, explaining the ins and outs of being a processor. Register for this free tour here. This event is a part of the 2026 OEFFA Farm Tour Series.	0 events 25 0 events, 25	0 events 26 0 events, 26
0 events 27 0 events, 27	1 event 28 1 event, 28 2026-07-28 OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter: 2026 Lake County Fair OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter: 2026 Lake County Fair July 28 - August 2 OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter: 2026 Lake County Fair The OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter will be setting up a table at the Lake County Fair from July 28 through August 2. If you would like a free day pass to the fair, consider volunteering to staff the building (basically just babysitting displays in the Natural Resource building) for a 3-hour shift. Help is especially needed on Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2. Please contact Tom Rapini at (440) 257-2673 (landline) if you are interested in helping out.	1 event 29 1 event, 29 2026-07-28 OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter: 2026 Lake County Fair	1 event 30 1 event, 30 2026-07-28 OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter: 2026 Lake County Fair	2 events 31 2 events, 31 2026-07-28 OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter: 2026 Lake County Fair 2026-07-31 2026 Nut Growers Conference 2026 Nut Growers Conference July 31 - August 3 2026 Nut Growers Conference The annual conferences for the Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA) and Chestnut Growers of America (CGA) will be held jointly Friday, July 31-Monday, August 3, 2026 in Amherst, Massachusetts. The conference’s main events include a welcoming dinner with a show and tell session, two all-day technical sessions, live auction, social/banquet, and an all-day field tour. Attendees will include a diverse mix of commercial growers, researchers, educators, extension specialists, and hobbyists. Expect to hear a lot about chestnuts and hazelnuts, especially when grown in agroforestry practices. Learn more and register at the link below.

Transition to Organic (TOPP)

Technical Assistance

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Early Summer Lunch and Learn Series: Farmer-to-Farmer Skill Share

OOFRN Office Hours

OEFFA at Common Greens Farmers’ Markets

Composting Facility Tour

Forest Farming Site Evaluation Workshop

Addressing ICE Activity in Farm Country

Policy and Pints: Columbus

Farm Tour & Workshop: Blaney Family Farm

Poultry Processing Facility Tour

Organic Grains Farm Tour

OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter: 2026 Lake County Fair

OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter: 2026 Lake County Fair

OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter: 2026 Lake County Fair

OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter: 2026 Lake County Fair

2026 Nut Growers Conference

OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter: 2026 Lake County Fair

2026 Nut Growers Conference

Organic Grains Farm Tour

OEFFA Lake Effect Chapter: 2026 Lake County Fair

2026 Nut Growers Conference

ohioecological

Technical Assistance

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