Organic Association Of Kentucky, Inc.

What Organic Association Of Kentucky, Inc. does

Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, founded in 2010 by and for organic farmers to advance organic regenerative agriculture across the state. The organization delivers a portfolio of programmatic services rather than a unified software product: free on-farm, phone, and virtual technical assistance for organic certification (Organic System Plans, record-keeping, paperwork), an Organic Farmer Mentorship Program pairing experienced growers with transitioning ones, production consultation via an Organic Production Specialist, a Soil Health Project supporting whole farm resilience planning, Conservation Outreach providing one-on-one land stewardship planning, and the Kentucky Farm Share Coalition expanding CSA access through employer-sponsored discounts.

Its underlying technology stack is modest: a CMS-based public website (oak-ky.org), a MemberClicks-hosted membership and event-registration system, two monthly email newsletters (OAK Field Notes for farmers; Make Mine Organic for consumers), an active presence across Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, and the Find-A-Farm Directory — a searchable web directory letting consumers locate Kentucky organic farms by zip code, county, crop or protein offering, certified-organic status, and CSA availability.

The business model is a nonprofit funding stack rather than a commercial revenue model. Operating support is drawn from three streams: tiered membership dues (Family Farmer, Supporter, Agricultural Business), tax-deductible donations (one-time, monthly regenerative, stock, planned giving), and grants — with documented funding from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service supporting the Find-A-Farm Directory. The association serves two primary segments: Kentucky farmers seeking organic transition, certification, production, and market-access support (primary), and Kentucky consumers seeking local organic produce via CSA programs and the farm directory (secondary). The organization is led by Executive Director Brooke Gentile with a 1-10 person staff.

Name

Organic Association Of Kentucky, Inc.

Legal name

Organic Association Of Kentucky, Inc.

Website

https://oak-ky.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Organic Association of Kentucky is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that provides free technical assistance, certification support, farmer mentorship, field days, and a Find-A-Farm directory to help Kentucky farmers transition to and succeed in organic agriculture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Association Services

NAICS

Other Crop Farming (1119)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Certification Services (AFALAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organic Produce Wholesale (AFAIACAE), Organic Row Crop Farming (Grains, Oilseeds, Pulses) (AFAGAKAA)

Keywords

• Organic agriculture advocacy
• Farmer technical assistance
• Organic certification support
• Regenerative agriculture education
• Agricultural membership association

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: OAK operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with membership tiers including Family Farmer, Supporter, and Agricultural Business levels that provide access to directory listings and member resources.
2. Donations and Grants: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations and receives grant funding from organizations such as USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Single-time gifts, monthly regenerative donor options, stock donations, and planned giving (will/trust) are available.
3. Programs and Services: OAK provides technical assistance, certification support, farmer mentorship, and conservation outreach services to Kentucky farmers. Some programs may offer incentives such as Soil Health Incentives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Organic Association of Kentucky is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association that supports Kentucky farmers in transitioning to and succeeding with certified organic and regenerative agriculture. It delivers free or low-cost technical assistance for organic certification (Organic System Plans, record-keeping), one-on-one production consultation, peer mentorship, on-farm Field Days and Workshops, conservation planning, and the Soil Health Project. It also operates the Find-A-Farm Directory and Kentucky Farm Share Coalition to connect consumers, worksites, and employers with local organic producers.

Product overview

Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by farmers in 2010 to advance organic regenerative agriculture in Kentucky. OAK operates as a membership-based association offering educational programs, technical assistance, and market resources rather than a unified software product. The organization's offerings include two newsletter products (OAK Field Notes for farmers and Make Mine Organic for consumers), a Find-A-Farm Directory, Field Days and Workshops for peer learning, Organic Transition and Production Consultation services, a Soil Health Project, Kentucky Farm Share Coalition for CSA support, Conservation Outreach, and membership programs at multiple tiers. These services work together to support Kentucky farmers through educational events, one-on-one technical assistance, market development, and community building around organic agriculture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OAK Field Notes: Monthly e-newsletter providing latest information on OAK farmer professional development, grant opportunities, regional workshops, organic research, and farmer highlights.
• Make Mine Organic
• Kentucky Farm Share Coalition (KYFSC)
• Find-A-Farm Directory

Products and services

• Organic Transition Program (Organic Certification Technical Assistance) Free technical assistance program for Kentucky farmers pursuing USDA organic certification. OAK's Organic Certification Specialists answer initial questions, develop Organic System Plans (OSP) with farmers, supply record-keeping templates, and support completion of organic certification paperwork. Aimed at farmers new to organic certification who need help navigating the regulatory and documentation process.
• Production Consultation (Organic Production Technical Assistance) One-on-one expert consultation provided by OAK's Organic Production Specialist to support farmers in production planning, troubleshooting challenges, implementing new systems, scaling up organic operations, and locating evidence-based resources, planning tools, or referrals. Designed for Kentucky farmers (certified or in transition) seeking to improve or expand organic production.
• Organic Farmer Mentorship Program Peer-mentorship program that matches experienced organic farmers with farmers who are in transition to provide guidance and support during the organic certification process. Intended for Kentucky farmers new to organic certification who can benefit from the practical experience of established producers.
• Field Days and Workshops On-farm Field Days, half- or full-day Workshops, and online webinars hosted on working Kentucky farms where farmers meet peers, experienced host farmers, and agricultural professionals to share learnings about organic crop and livestock systems, production, marketing, business, and resilience. Open to Kentucky farmers interested in peer-to-peer organic farming education.
• Soil Health Project Project that helps Kentucky farmers tell the full story of their farming systems and the marketable benefits of prioritizing soil health. Includes whole farm resilience plan development, data collection, and engagement with emerging markets seeking positive environmental impacts. Aimed at Kentucky farmers looking to improve soil health outcomes and access environmental-benefit markets.
• Kentucky Farm Share Coalition (KYFSC) Program that increases access to local, organic vegetables and supports Kentucky farmers through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). OAK provides additional CSA marketing and technical support for CSA growers, coordinates worksite and community CSA pickups, and facilitates employer-sponsored CSA discounts for Kentucky employees. Serves both CSA growers and Kentucky consumers/employers.
• Find-A-Farm Directory Searchable online directory allowing consumers to find local Kentucky organic farms by zip code, county, crop or protein offering, certified organic status, and CSA availability. Connects Kentucky consumers with farms offering produce, meat, eggs, flowers, and other farm products, and supports member farms with directory inclusion.
• Conservation Outreach Program One-on-one assistance program for Kentuckians interested in adding conservation practices (soil, water, plant diversity, wildlife, pollinators) to their land or farm management. Provides personalized conservation planning support to landowners and farmers.
• OAK Membership Program Three-tier membership program (Family Farmer, Supporter, Agricultural Business) that provides members with access to the Find-A-Farm Directory, member resources, and the network. Open to Kentucky farmers, supporters, and agricultural businesses aligned with advancing organic regenerative agriculture in Kentucky.
• Annual Conference Annual conference hosted by OAK with session proposals, sponsorship opportunities, and post-event recordings (e.g., Conference 2026 Recordings). Targets Kentucky farmers, agricultural professionals, and supporters of organic regenerative agriculture.

Quantifiable outcome

• Farmers developing Organic System Plans and completing organic certification paperwork with OAK specialist support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Kentucky Farm Share CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA focus program under OAK that increases access to local organic vegetables and supports Kentucky farmers through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). OAK provides additional CSA marketing and technical support for CSA growers, coordinates worksite and community CSA pickups, and facilitates employer-sponsored CSA discounts.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Organic Trade Association: A national membership-based business association for the organic industry, focused on advocacy, standards, and market development. Provides the broader policy and trade framework within which OAK operates.
• Rodale Institute: A national nonprofit research and education organization focused on regenerative organic agriculture. Overlaps with OAK's Soil Health Project and regenerative organic mission at a larger scale and research depth.

Direct peers

• Marbleseed (formerly MOSES): A Upper Midwest nonprofit delivering organic and sustainable farming education, events, and farmer-to-farmer learning. Closely parallels OAK's field days, mentorship, and educational programming.
• Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO): A USDA-accredited organic certifying body that also runs farmer education and advocacy programs. Closely comparable in the certification-technical-assistance crossover that defines OAK's value proposition.
• Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA): A regional network of seven state chapters offering organic education, certification assistance, and advocacy across the Northeast. Mirrors OAK's combination of technical assistance, certification support, and farmer-led events.
• California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF): The largest U.S. state-level organic certifier and advocacy organization, providing certification, education, and policy work for organic farmers. A scaled version of the model OAK operates in Kentucky.
• Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA): A USDA-accredited organic certifier serving primarily Midwest farms, combining certification services with educational resources. Comparable to OAK in serving transitioning organic producers with technical assistance.
• Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA): A 501(c)(3) membership-based nonprofit that provides organic certification, education, and advocacy for farmers in Ohio. Highly comparable in mission, structure, and program mix to OAK, just operating in a neighboring state.

Regional players

• Appalachian Sustainable Development: A nonprofit working across Appalachian Virginia and Tennessee on local food systems and farmer support, with parallel programs in organic transition and CSA coordination. Geographically adjacent and programmatically similar to OAK.

Emerging players

• Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF): A national nonprofit that funds organic farming research and policy advocacy. Comparable advocacy-and-research mission but operating nationally rather than at the state level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUSgwA3lBp-9y_b3hqBb5Uw
• Facebookfacebook.com/OrganicAssociationofKentucky
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/organic-association-of-kentucky
• Instagraminstagram.com/organicassociationofkentucky/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Organic Association Of Kentucky, Inc.