Award Honorees

This award is reserved to recognize decades of extraordinary commitment by an individual to the organic industry. The well-deserving recipient of the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award is George Siemon, the founding CEO of CROPP, the largest organic farmer-owned cooperative in North America, better known as Organic Valley, its bestselling brand. 

In 1988, at the peak of the U.S. farm crisis of the ‘80s, Siemon united a small group of organic family farmers in Southwest Wisconsin to found a new farmer-owned cooperative with a focus on organic agriculture and the mission of keeping farmers on their land. Siemon led the co-op for some 30 years as CEO of Organic Valley | CROPP Cooperative, building the business to over $1 billion in sales and over 2,000 farmer members. True to its roots, Organic Valley is still promoting regional and local organic production and distribution that provides a livelihood for thousands of family farmers and brings organic food to millions of consumers around the world. 

He has contributed countless hours and attention to leading organic-centric legislative campaigns, securing research and education resources for the trade, and being a mentor for hundreds of not only aspiring organic farmers but also business leaders and activists throughout the organic community.  George Siemon was the face and voice of the small farm organic movement for over three decades – a straightforward approachable CEO and go-to spokesperson for the industry. 

“I have been blessed to have been a part of pioneering the organic trade, and being part of such meaningful work,” says Siemon. “It is a great honor to receive this recognition, and I am humbled knowing how many other people have contributed so greatly to the organic movement. Organic has not only built a great selection of organic products but also has pioneered better methods of production. We can be the change that society needs.”