103rd Annual Convention Speakers
Louisiana Farm Bureau Awards Program
Thursday, June 26 at 5:30 p.m.
Carondelet, 3rd floor
Tim Temple, Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance
LABOR CONFERENCE
Friday, June 27 at 9:30 a.m.
Preservation Hall Studio 9, 2nd floor
“AFBF — Washington, DC — National Agricultural Labor & Policy Issues”
John Walt Boatright, American Farm Bureau Federation Director of Government Affairs
“Louisiana Agricultural Labor Issues”
Katie R. Nuñez, A Farmer’s Daughter, Ag Labor Consultant & LFBF Labor Chairman
ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE
Friday, June 27 at 10:45 a.m.
Galeries 4, 5 & 6, 2nd floor
“CCS – What Landowners Need to Know”
Keith B. Hall, J.D., Director of the Energy Law Center & Director of the Mineral Law Institute at LSU Law
“Greetings from LA Department of Conservation & Energy”
Neal McMillin, LA Dept. of Conservation & Energy Director of Federal Affairs
Farm-to-Table CONFERENCE
Friday, June 27 at 10:45 a.m.
Preservation Hall Studio 9, 2nd floor
“Success in Transitioning to Agritourism & On-farm Sales”
Jake Carter, Southern Belle Farms in McDonough, GA
General Session
Friday, June 27 at 1:30 p.m.
Acadia, 3rd floor
Dr. Mike Strain, LA Dept. of Agriculture & Forestry Commissioner
SUGAR CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 8 a.m.
Salons D & E, 3rd floor
“Sugar: Opportunities & Challenges in the Make America Healthy Again Movement”
P. Courtney Gaine, PhD, RD, The Sugar Association President & CEO
“Louisiana Sugarcane Issues Update”
Jim Simon, American Sugar Cane League General Manager
“Innovative Ideas in Agriculture: Harvester Modification That Reduces Soil Erosion & Runoff”
Joey Breaux, Assistant Commissioner Office of Soil & Water Conservation, Exec. Director LA Soil & Water Conservation Commission
RICE CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 8 a.m.
Preservation Hall Studios 1, 2 & 3, 2nd floor
“Herbicide Programs in Rice in 2025”
Dr. Conner Webster, LSU AgCenter Rice Weed Specialist
“Trade Trends & What’s Next?”
Karah Janevicius, USA Rice Director of International Trade Policy
DAIRY CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 8 a.m.
Preservation Hall Studio 4, 2nd floor
“Navigating Dairy Policy & Pricing in 2025”
Danny Munch, American Farm Bureau Federation Economist
“H5N1 Update”
RJ Layher, American Farm Bureau Federation Government Affairs Director
EQUINE CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 8 a.m.
Preservation Hall Studio 9, 2nd floor
“Equine Research & Promotion Board Update”
Jim Gauthier, Louisiana Equine Research & Promotion Board Member
“Waking Up the Winter Ovary: A New Tool for Advancing the Breeding Season”
Dr. Erin Oberhaus, LSU School of Animal Sciences Associate Professor
LIVESTOCK CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 10 a.m.
Salons D & E, 3rd floor
“Genomics 101”
Dr. Troy Rowan, The University of Tenneessee Knoxville Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist – Beef Cattle Genomics
“The Screwworm Resurgence: How to Spot, Stop, & Safeguard Your Herd”
Dr. Ashley Edwards, LSU AgCenter Extension Beef Cattle Specialist
“Louisiana Beef Industry Council Report”
Allen Blanchard, Louisiana Beef Industry Council Chairman
SOYBEANs, WHEAT & FEED GRAINS CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 10 a.m.
Preservation Hall Studios 1, 2 & 3, 2nd floor
“Deepening the Mississippi River: A Soybean Investment”
- Victor A. Landry, US Army Corps of Engineers
- Christopher Collins, LA DOTD
- Sean Duffy, Big River Coalition
“Crop Markets & Policy Updates”
Dr. Michael Deliberto, LSU AgCenter Associate Professor & Louisiana Farm Bureau Endowed Professor in Agricultural Policy
SWEET POTATO & MARKET PRODUCE CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 10 a.m.
Preservation Hall Studio 4, 2nd floor
“Louisiana Sweet Potato Industry Update”
J. Cole Gregorie, LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Specialist
“Market Challenges — Specialty Crops”
Danny Munch. American Farm Bureau Federation Economist
WLC BRUNCH
Saturday, June 28 at 11 a.m.
Acadia, 3rd floor
Brooke Clay Taylor, Founder of “The Rural Gone Urban Foundation”
PUBLIC POLICY LUNCH
Public Policy Lunch Sponsored by Louisiana Land Bank & First South Farm Credit
Saturday, June 28 at 12 – 1 p.m.
Galeries 1, 2 & 3, 2nd floor
Updates from Washington D.C. – A Conversation with Congressman Clay Higgins (LA-03)
CRAWFISH CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 1 p.m.
Preservation Hall Studios 1, 2 & 3, 2nd floor
“Country of Origin Seafood Testing & Marketing Implications”
- David Williams, SEAD Consulting
- Dr. Prashant Singh, Florida State University
“Louisiana Seafood Safety Taskforce & Testing Updates”
Gene Cavalier, LA Dept. of Agriculture & Forestry
COTTON CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 1 p.m.
Preservation Hall Studio 8, 2nd floor
“Producing High Valued Upland Cotton”
Marshall Hardwick, Hardwick Planting Company
“Pesticide ‘Strategy’: The Best Path Forward for ESA Compliance”
John Walt Boatright, American Farm Bureau Federation Government Affairs Director
“National Cotton Council Update”
Tas Smith, National Cotton Council of America Vice President of Producer Affairs
Pecan CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 1 p.m.
Preservation Hall Studio 4, 2nd floor
“American Pecan Promotion Board”
Anne Warden, American Pecan Promotion Board CEO
“Market Conditions, Research, & Orchard Management”
Michael Polozola II, PhD, LSU AgCenter Assistant Professor & Extension Fruit & Nut Specialist
FORESTRY CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 1 p.m.
Preservation Hall Studio 9, 2nd floor
“This is Not Your Father’s Sawmill”
Richie LeBlanc, Hunt Forest Products, L.L.C.
“What’s Ahead for Forestry”
Buck Vandersteen, Louisiana Forestry Association Executive Director
“LSU AgCenter Forestry Update”
Valerie West, LSU AgCenter Assistant Extension Agent
“LSU AgCenter Extension Wildlife Update”
Dr. Lucas Stamper, LSU AgCenter Statewide Wildlife Specialist
POULTRY CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 3 p.m.
Preservation Hall Studio 9, 2nd floor
“Legislative & Regulatory Update on U.S. Poultry Policy”
RJ Layher, American Farm Bureau Federation Government Affairs Director
“LSU AgCenter Poultry Research Update”
Will Strickland, LSU AgCenter Extension Agent – Poultry Production
BEEKEEPERS CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 3 p.m.
Preservation Hall Studios 1, 2 & 3, 2nd floor
“Swarming with Solutions: Tackling Beekeeping Challenges with Research”
Amy Weeks, Auburn University Research Assistant IV
OYSTER & SHRIMP CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 3 p.m.
Preservation Hall Studio 8, 2nd floor
“Eat Oysters — Save the Coast! CRCL’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program”
Darrah Fox Bach, Oyster Shell Recycling Program Manager, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
“Louisiana Seafood Safety Taskforce & Testing Updates & Seafood Promotional Opportunities with LDAF”
Gene Cavalier, LA Dept. of Agriculture & Forestry
NURSERYMEN CONFERENCE
Saturday, June 28 at 3 p.m.
Preservation Hall Studio 4, 2nd floor
“Hammond Horticultural Updates for Nursery Growers”
Damon Abdi, PhD, LSU AgCenter Assistant Professor of Landscape Horticulture
“Economic Impact Report: Nurserymen & Landscapers play a vital role in Louisiana’s Economy”
Lisa Loup, Legislative Affairs; Louisiana Nurserymen & Landscapers Association
“New Leadership – Louisiana Nurserymen & Landscapers Association”
Brandon Adams, Louisiana Nurserymen & Landscapers Association President