Louisiana Farm Bureau Honors Parishes, Volunteers at 97th Annual Meeting

By Avery Davidson, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation

NEW ORLEANS—It’s a “three-peat!”

     No, it’s not the Saints or the Pelicans, but here in the Crescent City, this is the third 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 97th 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. 

     Also winning big Thursday night were Adam and Megan Caughern of Caddo Parish, who received the Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award. The Caugherns began farming in 2008 and have a commercial hay operation on 525 acres of land, manage a 4,000 acre farm and also offer custom spraying services in Gilliam, 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 Caugherns receive $35,000 cash from the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, an all-expense paid trip to the 2020 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, one year’s use of an agricultural weather station courtesy of DTN valued at $1,800, $1,500 in equipment rentals courtesy of H&E Equipment Services, as well as other cash prices.

      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 farmers can innovate new uses of agricultural products and by-products. The judges named Kody Beavers of Franklin Parish the winner of 2019 Discussion Meet. Beavers receives a John Deere Gator utility vehicle, courtesy of the Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, an all-expense paid trip to the 2020 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, $1,500 in equipment rentals courtesy of H&E Equipment Services, as well as other cash prices.

      Hannah Devall of St. Martin Parish is the winner of the 2019 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, Devall receives $7,500 toward the purchase of a 4-wheel ATV, courtesy of Louisiana Land Bank, an all expense paid trip to the 2020 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, $1,500 in equipment rentals courtesy of H&E Equipment Services, as well as other cash prices.

      Megan Procell Cook of Sabine Parish is the 2019 Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Outstanding Young Farm Woman. Cook and her husband raise cattle and goats on 121 acres of land near Many, La. Cook sits on the Sabine Parish Farm Bureau board of directors and is a graduate of the LSU Ag Center’s Master Cattleman program. For winning, Cook receives a $2,000 gift card from the Louisiana Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance, an all-expense paid trip to the 2020 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 Michele Levis as the Teacher of the Year. Levis teaches first grade at Green T. Linden Elementary in Youngsville, Louisiana The AITC committee gives the honor every year to a teacher who does an exemplary job of incorporating agriculture into lesson plans. Levis receives an all-expense paid trip to the National Ag in the Classroom conference in Little Rock, Arkansas, an iPad and $500 cash from the Louisiana Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.

     The 97th Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation continues through Sunday, June 23 at the New Orleans Marriott.

 For more information, visit www.lfbfconvention.org.  

    Founded in 1922, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general farm organization representing more than 137,000 member families.