Louisiana Farm Bureau Honors Parishes, Volunteers at 96th Annual Meeting
By Avery Davidson, Louisiana Farm Bureau News
NEW ORLEANS—For the second year in a row, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation recognized the Rapides Parish Farm Bureau with the President’s Award. Rapides Parish Farm Bureau President Bill Cheek accepted the award on stage Thursday night at the 96th Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation President Ronnie Anderson presents The President’s Award to the parish Farm Bureau that excels in membership, advocacy and public relations over the past year.
The Discussion Meet is an opportunity for Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers to show their skills at tackling topics in a group setting, much like at a governmental meeting. The topic for the final round of this year’s Discussion Meet focused on how Farm Bureau can best protect farmers’ and ranchers’ access to production technology options. The judges named Stephen Simoneaux of Assumption Parish the winner of 2018 Discussion Meet. Simoneaux receives a John Deere Gator utility vehicle, courtesy of the Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, an all expense paid trip to the 2019 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, $1,500 in equipment rentals courtesy of H&E Equipment Services, as well as other cash prices.
Jamie Boudreaux Lee of Vermilion Parish is the winner of the 2018 Louisiana Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture award. The award is designed to recognize Young Farmers and Ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an owned agricultural operation, but are actively contributing and growing through their involvement in Farm Bureau and the agricultural industry. For winning, Boudreaux receives $7,500 toward the purchase of a 4-wheel ATV, courtesy of Louisiana Land Bank, an all expense paid trip to the 2019 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, $1,500 in equipment rentals courtesy of H&E Equipment Services, as well as other cash prices.
Kacie Luckett of East Baton Rouge Parish is the 2018 Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Outstanding Young Farm Woman. Luckett has a farm in Pride, Louisiana where she and her husband, Derek, grow fruits and vegetables and sell them directly to consumers via a consumer supported agriculture (CSA) system. In a CSA, customers pay for their produce before the growing season and receive weekly boxes of fruits and vegetables throughout the season. For winning, Luckett receives a $2,000 gift card from the Louisiana Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance, an all expense paid trip to the 2019 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, $1,500 in equipment rentals courtesy of H&E Equipment Services, as well as other cash prices.
The Louisiana Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom committee recognized Paula Guidry as the Teacher of the Year. Guidry teaches fifth grade at L. Leo Judice Elementary in Scott, Louisiana The AITC committee gives the honor every year to a teacher who does an exemplary job of incorporating agriculture into lesson plans. Guidry receives an all expense paid trip to the National Ag in the Classroom conference in Portland, Maine, an iPad and $500 cash from the Louisiana Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.
Jacob and Kari Rumbaugh of Caddo Parish received the Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award. The Rumbaughs manage 1,300 acres of wheat, soybeans, corn and cattle pastures in Dixie, Louisiana. The Achievement Award recognizes farmers and ranchers under the age of 35 who have thriving operations and a strong involvement in Farm Bureau. For winning the Achievement Award, the Rumbaughs receive $35,000 cash from the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, an all expense paid trip to the 2019 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, $1,500 in equipment rentals courtesy of H&E Equipment Services, as well as other cash prices.
The 96th Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation continues through Sunday, June 24 at the New Orleans Marriott.
Founded in 1922, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general farm organization representing more than 140,000 member families.