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Oregon Tilth New Board Leadership and 2026-2028 Board of Directors Election Results
Corvallis, OR (February 11, 2026) – Oregon Tilth announced the results of its 2026–2028 Board of Directors election and the election of a new Board President, marking a leadership transition as the organization continues more than five decades of advancing biologically sound and socially equitable agriculture.
As part of its annual governance process, Oregon Tilth received three nominations for two open Board seats, each serving three-year terms. Member participation reflects the depth of leadership and engagement across Oregon Tilth’s national community and the broader organic sector.
Stephanie Jerger Elected Board President
Oregon Tilth announced that Stephanie Jerger, Vice President of Operations at the Organic Trade Association, has been elected Board President.
Jerger brings more than a decade of experience in the organic sector, with expertise in organizational operations, strategic planning, financial oversight, and stakeholder engagement. Throughout her career and in her current role at OTA, she has worked extensively to strengthen collaboration across the organic supply chain and expand access to certified organic and sustainable practices.
As Board President, Jerger will focus on innovation, organizational growth, and stewardship of Oregon Tilth’s mission into its next era of impact as a nonprofit dedicated to organic certification, education, and advocacy.
“I am honored to take on this role at such a critical juncture for organic as we work to continue shaping the future of our food system,” said Stephanie Jerger, Board President-elect. “This is a wonderful opportunity to help steward the next chapter of Oregon Tilth’s legacy, while also championing its integrity and purpose-driven mission.”
Oregon Tilth also welcomes the following newly elected Board members:
Deirdre Geddes brings extensive experience supporting organic farmers and strengthening regional organic supply chains. As director of sales and marketing at Hummingbird Wholesale, she has spent the past seven years building sales programs that support regional organic producers and expand organic acreage in Oregon and beyond. Geddes previously served as board secretary for the Oregon Farm to School Network and currently serves on Hummingbird Wholesale’s Employee-Owned Purpose Trust Board.
Dr. TeKedra Pierre brings a multidisciplinary background spanning agricultural marketing, communications, education, healthcare administration, and entrepreneurship. She serves as Director of the Information, Impact, and Sustainability Center within the Prairie View A&M University College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, where her work focuses on innovation, community engagement, and systems-level impact across food and agriculture. She is also the founder of Agletics, an initiative advancing agricultural literacy through creative engagement.
Oregon Tilth thanked outgoing Board President Ani Kame’enui for her leadership and service, noting her role in strengthening organizational priorities during a period of continued growth and change.
The organization also recognized Tina Consentino for renewing her Board term and for her continued commitment to supporting Oregon Tilth and its members. Oregon Tilth’s full Board of Directors remains actively engaged in governance and strategic oversight.
With renewed board leadership, Oregon Tilth will continue to prioritize collaboration, transparency, and community-centered governance while advancing innovation, resilience, and equity across organic agriculture.
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About Oregon Tilth
Oregon Tilth is a leading organic certifier, educator, and advocate for a brighter food future. We’re a team of regulatory experts, biologists, farmers, technical specialists, horticulturalists, communicators, administrators, inspectors, advocates, certification specialists, and educators working together to make our food and agriculture system socially equitable and biologically sound. We’re honored to serve hard working farmers, ranchers, handlers, and operators who empower consumers. To learn more, visit tilth.org.
About the Organic Trade Association
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing organic businesses and producers across the nation. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers’ associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, brands, retailers, and others. OTA’s mission is to promote and protect organic with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace. To learn more, visit www.ota.com.