Ville Platte Rice, Soybean and Crawfish Farmer Richard Fontenot Elected President of Louisiana Farm Bureau

By Avery J. Davidson

Louisiana Farm Bureau

Richard Fontenot, a fourth-generation rice, soybean and crawfish farmer from Ville Platte, will serve as the 13th president of Louisiana Farm Bureau.

Voting delegates from across the state elected Fontenot at the 102nd Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention at the New Orleans Marriott on Canal St. He succeeds Jim Harper of Cheneyville who led the state’s largest general farm organization for four years. Harper announced in February that he would not seek another term.

“It’s an honor to get the chance to lead such a vital and strong organization,” Fontenot said. “We have a lot of issues facing agriculture right now with the drafting of a new Farm Bill. It’s important that Louisiana Farm Bureau has a seat at the table to guide that discussion.”

Fontenot previously served on the as Third Vice-President of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors for nine years. He also served as the district five board member from 2003-2005 and 2013-2015. Fontenot served as president of the Evangeline Parish Farm Bureau for 15 years.

Outside of Farm Bureau, Fontenot has been a leader in the rice industry. He is a past chairman of the Louisiana Rice Research Board and currently serves on the USA Rice Federation Board of Directors.

“Advocacy is important,” said Fontenot. “As farmers and ranchers, if we do not tell our story and stand up for what’s important we will not be able to keep feeding the world, and everyone loses. Louisiana Farm Bureau is the unified voice of Louisiana agriculture and speaks for more than 145,000 members.”

Fontenot is a graduate of LSU with a degree in Agricultural Business. He’s also graduated from LSU Agricultural Leadership Class VI and American Farm Bureau Federation’s Partners in Advocacy Leadership Class 2.

Fontenot and his wife, Rhonda, have been married for 25 years. They live with their son, Lance, just outside of Ville Platte. Fontenot and his brother, Neal, operate R & N Farms, which spans 4,000 acres.

Founded in 1921, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general farm organization representing more than 145,000 member families.