Sep 17, 2025
Organic leaders recognized at Organic Week 2025
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) honored eight individuals for their contributions to the organic movement during its annual leadership awards ceremony held at Organic Week 2025.
The awards recognize leaders who have advanced organic agriculture, promoted sustainability and supported communities.
“This esteemed list is a testament to the inspirational leadership and innovation abundant in the organic industry, and we are extremely grateful for the unwavering passion and commitment of these award recipients,” said Matthew Dillon, co-CEO of the OTA. “We are proud to celebrate their significant achievements and look forward to their future contributions to drive the organic movement.”
Organic Champion Award
Russell Redding, Pennsylvania’s secretary of agriculture, received the Organic Champion Award for his decades of service to farmers and leadership in organic agriculture. Redding has championed programs such as the PA Preferred Organic brand and the Organic Center of Excellence and promoted public-private partnerships to grow the organic sector. A lifelong public servant and Pennsylvania native, he continues to operate his own crop and dairy farms, emphasizing sustainability and community-focused agricultural development.
Organic Lifetime Achievement Award
Albert Straus of Straus Family Creamery and David Lively of Organically Grown Company were both honored with the Organic Lifetime Achievement Award. Straus, a second-generation dairy farmer, transitioned his family farm to certified organic in 1994 and established the nation’s first 100% organic creamery.
Lively has been active in organic agriculture since 1979, helping to grow Oregon’s largest fresh-market organic farm and shaping key industry organizations including the Sustainable Food Trade Association and the Organicology Conference.
Organic Farmers of the Year
Chris and Marcie Baugher, owners of Baugher Ranch Organics in Northern California, received the Organic Farmers of the Year Award for their leadership in organic farming and almond production. Pioneers in transitioning to organic farming in 1984, the Baughers have helped shape the growth of the organic almond industry while promoting ethical, sustainable practices and supporting rural communities.
Organic Environmental Leadership Award
Charlotte Vallaeys, principal at Vallaeys Consulting LLC, earned the Organic Environmental Leadership Award for her efforts integrating climate-smart practices into organic supply chains. Previously serving as Organic Expert at General Mills, Vallaeys led sustainability initiatives for organic brands, promoted perennial grains and diverse crops with climate benefits, and communicated the environmental advantages of organic to broader audiences.
Organic Trailblazer Award
Nicole Atchison, CEO of PURIS, was recognized with the Organic Trailblazer Award for her leadership in protecting organic integrity. She has worked with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and collaborates with the National Organic Program to develop more effective tools and practices to prevent organic fraud, ensuring trust and transparency across the industry.
Organic Social Impact Award
Tony Bedard, CEO of Frontier Co-op, received the Organic Social Impact Award for advancing environmental and social responsibility through his leadership of the member-owned cooperative. Over more than 30 years, Bedard has implemented programs to empower employees, strengthen smallholder farmers and reinvest profits to support producers and initiatives aligned with Frontier Co-op’s mission of “Doing Good, Works.”
The OTA represents organic businesses and producers across the United States and works to promote and protect organic agriculture from farm to marketplace.
