Jerah Pettibone – OEFFA

The Ohio Pawpaw Festival is a fun-filled, educational community event celebrating one of America’s largest native tree fruits - the pawpaw! As you enjoy the fun and food of the fest, stop by the Mother Earth News tent on Sunday, September 15 from 1 - 2 pm. OEFFA will facilitate a community conversation engaging farmers and landholders in the Athens/Meigs/Vinton County area. While the area is rich in sustainable agriculture and active community care for the environment, it still faces many of the same statewide challenges of keeping farmland affordable, accessible, and available for those who feed us.  As development pressure increases and farmland prices rise, OEFFA will bring together key stakeholders to discuss the current and future state of land access for new and retiring farmers. Join the conversation and talk with county commissioners, land bank representatives, real estate professionals, and land seekers. Together we will discuss the current state of land access, share personal experiences, brainstorm solutions, and envision a future where sustainable, local agriculture can continue to thrive.