COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Assoc. (OEFFA) has named Mardy Townsend and Rev. Charles Frye as 2013 recipients of its Stewardship and Service awards. The announcements were part of OEFFA’s 34th annual conference, “Growing Opportunities, Cultivating Change,” in Columbus last month.

Townsend, winner of the Stewardship Award, raises grass-fed beef cattle on her Marshy Meadows Farm in Ashtabula County near Windsor. Portions of the 226-acre farm have been in the Townsend family since 1972, but it wasn’t until 1993 that she transitioned to grass farming to better suit the farm’s wet, erodible conditions and the area’s long, cold winters.

“With nearly 20 years of farming experience, Mardy has developed a successful, sustainable and organic model for grass-fed beef production,” said Molly Bartlett, a 2007 recipient of the same award, and who nominated Townsend. “A natural steward, Mardy’s keen affection for her animals and the land and wise knowledge of her farm have guided her holistic management practices.”

In 2000, 175 acres of the farm were put into a permanent conservation easement held by the Ashtabula County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy. In 2002, Townsend and her mother, Marge, received the Outstanding Cooperator Award from the SWCD. The farm is also enrolled in the USDA’s Conservation Security Program.

“Mardy’s contributions to sustainable agriculture go beyond her farm,” said Mark Luber, who shared the 2007 award with Bartlett and presented this year’s to Townsend. “She is not only active in both OEFFA and the Ohio Farmers Union, but she has been involved in her community and drawing attention to the problems associated with fracking (hydraulic fracturing).”

Townsend has served on the OEFFA board. She is founding member of its Lake Effect Chapter and has hosted several OEFFA farm tours. She graduated from Wilmington College in 1978 with a degree in animal science and biology and earned a master’s in agronomy from Ohio State University in 1997. She was a horticulture agent at the Geauga County extension office from 1994-96.

Frye, a retired United Methodist Church pastor and winner of the Service Award, served on the OEFFA Board for more than 30 years and has held both the president and vice president positions. He began his involvement with OEFFA after spending seven years of his ministry life involved with the Rural Urban Gardening Project, creating community gardens by encouraging collaborations between diverse communities.

Frye and his wife, Rev. Nancy Hull, live on 40 acres in Ashland County, which include a garden and 40 heirloom fruit trees, blueberries and asparagus plants.

“Charlie’s work in the areas of sustainable and organic agriculture, grower support and farm worker advocacy, along with his efforts to get good, wholesome food to all people, have been major contributors to the advancements we have made over the last 30 years,” said Mike Laughlin, the 2010 recipient of the Stewardship Award, who made the presentation to Frye.

Frye is the first recipient of the Service Award, which was created this year to recognize outstanding service in support of sustainable agriculture.