The Organic Farmer of the Year Award honors leaders who have made significant contributions to support and advance organic agriculture and trade at the farm level. This year, the trade association recognizes Amy Bruch of Cyclone Farms in York, Nebraska, a 6th generation farmer, with the honor. Since carrying on the legacy of her family farm in Nebraska nine years ago, after the sudden passing of her father, she and her husband, Tyler, evolved the operation into one of the most cutting-edge organic farms in the country and converted nearly 2,500 acres of high productive farm ground to organic row crops, small grains, pulses, and oilseeds.
Amy is a soil health expert who uses the Kinsey-Albrecht system approach on her operation, has had experience with various projects to help establish sustainable farming systems on four continents, and she is currently serving as a member of the National Organic Standards Board.
Amy is also the co-founder of AgriSecure, a first-of-its-kind full-service organic consulting company that helps farmers transition into organic production. This effort has already helped convert over 65,000 acres represented by more than 68 farmers across 15 states in their organic transition. Amy’s leadership is widely revered as setting the pace for getting growers through transition and fully certified to organic.