Representatives of the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OFA) told the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday that their organization can help farmers access land and technical assistance through a partnership with the county land bank.

Jera Pettibone introduced herself and John Stock as educators with OFA and said the group provides organic certification services, agricultural education and policy advocacy across Ohio. “We really do kind of help farmers with whatever they may need, whether that is just questions about production, questions about certification, questions about funding, questions about accessing farmland or transitioning farmland,” Pettibone said.

Stock described programming for both beginning and established growers, including assistance on cover cropping, soil health and transitioning to organic production. He said OFA’s education work is funded by grants that sometimes support direct services and sometimes do not, depending on the grant deliverables.

Commissioners and staff discussed bundling smaller parcels and using land bank properties for “micro‑farming” and urban agriculture to create opportunities for new or small‑scale farmers who lack access to larger tracts or equipment. Pettibone said OFA had collaborated with county land banks elsewhere and that OFA’s land‑access work aims to transfer farmland to people who will continue agricultural production as older farmers retire.

No formal county action was recorded; the meeting included discussion about arranging a land‑bank tour and pursuing cooperative options to make smaller properties available for sustainable production and potential retail. Commissioners expressed interest in exploring the idea further and thanked OFA representatives for meeting with county staff.

OFA representatives said the organization’s certification arm serves Ohio and 11 other states and that their education side can sometimes provide grant‑funded assistance for equipment or production depending on available funding.