Russell Libby, longtime executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, announced Oct. 16 that he will resign from the post effective Nov. 3.

Libby will continue to work with MOFGA as senior policy advisor, a newly-created position. Heather Spalding, MOFGA's deputy director, will take over for Libby as interim executive director. 

In a press release, Libby traced his ties to MOFGA back 30 years to when he was a finalist for the executive director position. He joined the organization's board of directors in 1983 and became executive director in 1995. After 17 years, he said, "it feels like the right time to be moving to new challenges in my life."

"This summer, I did an exercise where I looked at past accomplishments, and where I thought the organization is going in the future," Libby wrote, "and I have to say that the piece I'm proudest of is that we have been able to bring together a highly competent staff who are helping to change Maine agriculture, day by day. We have infrastructure that we could only dream about 30 years ago — the Common Ground Education Center — which is so full of possibilities that it can, and will, shape much of what we are doing in the future. But we also have brought literally thousands of people into the organization, trained many new farmers, and continued to push on a wide range of policy initiatives."

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association was founded in 1971, and claims the distinctions of being the oldest and largest state organic organization in the country. The Association runs a year-round schedule of programs for farmers and gardeners on growing organic food, fiber and other crops, recycling and other practices that protect the environment. The organization also lists increasing local food production, supporting rural communities and educating consumers about the connection between healthful food and enviromentally sound farming practices.

MOFGA's signature event since 1977 has been the annual Common Ground Country Fair. The three-day event, billed as "a celebration of rural living," features demonstrations, lectures, crafts, food and games. The 2012 fair, held in September, drew approximately 60,000 attendants to MOFGA's fairgrounds in Unity.

"Everybody knows about our Common Ground Country Fair, of course, but increasingly our actions, projects and policies, year-round, are watched and imitated as well," said Barbara Damrosch, president of MOFGA's board of directors, who wrote on behalf of the board. "To young people, our hope for the future, Maine has become known as a great place to farm." 

"Under Russell’s care, and its influence has spread far beyond the borders of Maine," she said. "His work on food policy has given the organic farmers and gardeners of our state a voice in Washington, and on the national stage in general."

Damrosch said Libby began making preparations for the transition some time ago by delegating certain responsibilities, hiring staff and making land acquisitions.

We are overjoyed that he will continue to steer our policy work, and that he will be available to offer us the sound advice, on matters large and small, that we have all so appreciated, for so long," she said. "Ask Russell a question and you will always get a sage and candid answer."

Reported by Ethan Andrews: ethanandrews@penbaypilot.com