RAFI mourns the passing of Michael Sligh on November 7, 2025 at home, lovingly cared for by his wife Janet and surrounded by family and friends. We are honored to have worked with Michael, who was RAFI’s Just Foods Program Director for 29 years. He was a visionary and leader of the sustainable and organic movement, playing an instrumental role in significant wins including the development of recommendations that established the National Organic Program.
Michael was first and foremost a farmer, with a gift for articulating the problems small and mid-scale farmers face and building collaborative efforts to bring about effective solutions to change the system to reflect greater fairness and humanity.
“Michael had a gift for bringing people together and forming coalitions, weaving connections and turning shared values into collective action to strive towards longer-term goals.” Kelli Dale, RAFI’s current Just Foods Program Director
“I remember Michael as one of the forefathers of establishing rules and standards to protect the integrity of the organic movement; his reach was both domestic and international.” Benny Bunting, RAFI’s Lead Farm Advocate
“So much of the policy work we do today is built on foundations which Michael helped lay—including my own interest in policy work. Before my time with RAFI even began, I attended a presentation Michael gave at Southern SAWG about sustainable agriculture policy work. I was so riveted by the stories he shared about the campaigns, the wins, and the struggles of decades of policy advocacy that I left the presentation with a clear epiphany that I wanted to be a part of that effort. I know I am one of many to have learned from and been inspired by Michael.” Margaret Krome-Lukens, RAFI Policy Co-Director
“Michael was deeply grounded in his love for the earth and those who grow and harvest our food. Known for humor and gentleness, he was also fired within to make ambitious things work—whether it be uniting farmers of all backgrounds, coordinating epic farmer-to-farmer hay-lifts, organizing multiple coalitions of organizations, or changing paths of the most powerful. A lifetime work partner and friend, Michael leaves a big hole in our hearts and a beautiful legacy.” Betty Bailey, former RAFI Executive Director
Upon his retirement in 2019, RAFI’s Communication Specialist Janie Hysen put together the piece “A True Organizer” about Michael’s many contributions to the sustainable agriculture movement. For more about his life and work, please visit “A True Organizer.”