Vermillion Parish Farm Wife Claims YF&R Discussion Meet Crown
Amanda Duhon of Vermilion Parish competes in the Discussion Meet at the Louisiana Farm Bureau 100th Annual Convention.
By: Chuck Cannon
NEW ORLEANS—Four of Louisiana’s finest young farmers and ranchers competed in the final round of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet June 23rd at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention at the New Orleans Marriott.
When the dust had settled and the tractors were parked in the shed, Amanda Duhon, a farm wife from Maurice, Louisiana, had earned the right to represent the Louisiana Farm Bureau at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 104th Annual Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico in January.
The contestants were asked to discuss the topic: Due to current economic demands, many farmers and ranchers spend a lot of time outside the “fence rows” on off-farm jobs. How can Farm Bureau become more accessible and welcoming to members who are working in related fields and juggling responsibilities on and off the farm?
Competitors were judged on their analysis of the topic, problem solving and implementation skills, cooperative attitude, delivery and opening and closing statements. The four finalists were selected from two rounds of competition earlier on June 23.
Duhon, who represented Vermillion Parish, said winning the contest “meant a lot,” and validated the time she spent preparing for the the event.
“It shows the hard work paid off, and I hope that my peers saw I brought great solutions to the problem,” Duhon said.
Duhon complemented her fellow competitors.
“It was a rough last round and I wasn’t sure who the winner would be,” she said. “I think we all come together and made a great discussion.”
Contest judge Teri Bontrager from the Santa Barbara County, California Farm Bureau said the toughest job of selecting a winner was determining, “who won today.”
“They all did a very nice job, today Amanda just did the best,” Bontrager said.
Fellow judge James Meaux, an LSU AgCenter county agent in Lake Charles, said Amanda was the most polished speaker of the four finalists.
“She sounded as if she had done her research,” Meaux said. “And she talked about her local YF&R chapter.”
Although now a full-time farmer’s wife, Duhon said she worked for 10 years off the farm.
“It’s been a challenge,” she said, “Whenever I decided to go full-time farm wife, we had fixed our finances, got ready for it, and then 2022 happened. Input costs came up, fertilizer prices rose, but it’s OK, we’re making it work. My husband is a Farm Bureau board member now, so we’re truly enjoying Farm Bureau.”