David Lively | Pioneer Emeritus, Organically Grown Company (discussion leader)
David Lively and his brother Tom started out with gardening organically on a one-third acre designed to feed a commune of 15. From there, they started to professionally farm and the work that created Organically Grown Cooperative. This evolved to Organically Grown Company, with grower and employee-owners. He currently is Pioneer Ermeritus at Organically Grown Company. He is a co-founder of the Sustainable Food Trade Association, Organic Produce Wholesalers Coalition and the Organicology Conference. He has also served on the Boards of Oregon Tilth and the Organic Seed Alliance.
Sedrick Rowe, Jr., | Rowe Organic Farms, Representing Georgia Organics
Sedrick Rowe is owner and operator of Rowe Organic Farms in southwest Georgia. He is one of only three Georgia farmers successfully growing certified organic peanuts. Rowe is a first-generation farmer, and has expanded his initial ten-acre plot to now 30 acres, growing organic peanuts, sunflowers, and most recently hemp. A former college football star, he has a Master’s degree in Public Health with a published thesis on organic peanuts. When not farming, or being chapter president of the South Georgia Young Farmers Coalition, or member/ambassador of Georgia Organics, or partner of the Black Farmers’ Network, Rowe is working on his doctoral degree in crop, soil and environmental sciences. Recently featured in a New York Times article, Rowe is committed to increasing the number of African-American farmers, and using his network of producers, educators and political contacts to advocate for measures to help more African-Americans enter farming.
Willow Aray | Development Manager, CCOF
Willow Aray grew up in North Carolina and in the rugged mountains of Colorado. She moved to Monterey in 2009 to pursue her MPA from the Monterey Institute of International Studies where she studied International Development, Global Policy, Non-profit Management and French. Passionate about social/environmental justice, she served Monterey County's most vulnerable populations for the past decade, leading social change organizations through transition and always utilizing a healing-informed approach when addressing systemic inequities that cause individual and societal trauma. Excited to pivot her career to focus on a healthy planet, she joined the CCOF Foundation as the Development Manager in May 2020. Having just returned to her roots in North Carolina, she spends her free time creating art, cooking delicious meals, hiking with her dog, dancing, playing her ukulele, raising her son and exploring all the vast and beautiful landscapes that our planet has to offer.
Jeff Moyer | CEO, Rodale Institute
Jeff Moyer, CEO of Rodale Institute, is a world-renowned authority in organic agriculture. His expertise includes organic crop production systems with a focus on weed management, cover crops, crop rotations, equipment modification and use, and facilities design. Jeff is perhaps most well-known for conceptualizing and popularizing the No Till Roller Crimper for use in organic agriculture. His vast experience and knowledge regarding organic farming has provided the media with a reliable source and perspective for information on current agricultural issues. Jeff has been on staff at Rodale Institute for over 44 years. He spent over 30 years as Farm Manager/Director, was appointed as Executive Director of the Institute in September 2015, and became CEO in September of 2019. Jeff was project leader on the highly acclaimed Organic No-Till project and is the author of two books on this subject: “Organic No-Till Farming – Advancing No-Till Agriculture Crops, Soil, Equipment” and “Roller/Crimper No-Till – Advancing No-Till Agriculture.” He is a past chair of the National Organic Standards Board and currently sits on the boards of Regenerative Organic Alliance, the Soil Health Institute and advisory board of The Real Organic Project. Jeff is a founding board member of Pennsylvania Certified Organic and past Founder and Board Chair of The Seed Farm, a new farmer incubator project.
Chris Schreiner | Executive Director, Oregon Tilth
Chris Schreiner is currently Oregon Tilth's Executive Director. He grew up working on his family's farm, Schreiner's Iris Gardens, a third-generation 200-acre iris nursery in Oregon's Willamette Valley. After completing his degree at the University of Oregon, Chris worked on a small organic farm that grew diverse specialty crops, selling direct to local restaurants and natural food stores. Since 1998, Chris has worked for Oregon Tilth. As the Farm Program Coordinator, he coordinated the certification process for over 400 farms participating in the Oregon Tilth Certified Organic program. As the Quality Control Director, his responsibilities included policy analysis and managing accreditation with the USDA National Organic Program. His goal is to work on behalf of efforts to support agriculture and food systems that conserve natural resources and prevent environmental degradation while producing a clean and healthful food supply.