Who is Class XII? (Part II)
By Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
When the LSU AgLeadership Development Program was conceived 24 years ago its mission was as complex as it was simple: develop farm leaders.
Those three words over the last two-and-a-half decades have come to define the program and its success. But what makes Class XII different is that it’s what I call something of a legacy class.
There are three members whose father’s were all graduates of the program. Kyle Dill’s father Joe and Scootie Aucoin’s father Dennis were both graduates of Class V, while Luke Sayes’ father Larry was a graduate of Class IV. It’s a sign that the children of past graduates are readying themselves to take up the mantle their parents will one day leave behind. It’s a clear sign of the program’s success.
Another sign is the legacy being created by the program’s current director, Dr. Bobby Soileau. His father Robert was the program’s first director, serving from 1988 to 1997. Like his father, Bobby is as dedicated to the success of the program as any of his predecessors. Together with Jenne Farr, the program’s administrative assistant, Class XII finds itself in capable hands.
I know most of you following our trip want to read a little something about your husband, father, mom, son or daughter. Time and space constraints usually prohibit me from speaking at length to everyone, but here are some impressions of those I’ve met with, or observed during our trip thus far.
Dennis “Scootie” Aucoin Jr., like his dad Dennis Sr., appears to be a no-nonsense forester. In the logging business you’ve got to be. His dad was logger of the year in 1993, if memory serves, and it’s only a matter of time before Dennis Jr. picks up the same honor.
Patrick Babineaux is the nephew of Farm Bureau Director of Field Services Nolan Babineaux. He admits it’s the first time he’s traveled abroad and said it’s been a very eye-opening experience so far. As a county executive director of the USDA he has a challenging, but obviously rewarding job providing agricultural services to the farmers in and around Tangipahoa Parish. He also has a keen interest in photography and he and I spent a few minutes talking cameras on our boat ride down the Parana River Monday.
Vic Blanchard of Plaquemine was a former high school classmate of my girlfriend Renee LaCour. (How’s that for six degrees of separation?) Vic is a land manager for A. Wilbert’s Sons, LLC and there’s genuinely not another guy out there who knows as much about land and timber management than Vic. He’s been profiled on “This Week in Louisiana Agriculture” and I know he was looking forward to the forestry visit during our time in Chile’. You’ll see Vic in our TWILA program from South America Feb. 11.
Richard Costello happens to be Dr. Richard Costello. His Ph.D. in weed science from the University of Arkansas has made him a valuable resource in Class XII. As an ag consultant for C and J Ag Consulting, Dr. Costello, at 41, is the father of 20-month-old Daniel. He’s no doubt missing the little guy, but I’m certain his wife Carla has the situation well in hand back in Oak Grove.
Marty Graham and his wife Lori are certainly one farm couple who know firsthand the challenges of farming. You may recall on our program a few years back our profile of Graham as he battled rising flood waters in an effort to save his crop along the Morganza spillway. But like all good farmers Marty continues to hang in there, doing what he loves most.
Noble Guedon is the immediate past chair of the Mississippi Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. While he and his wife Fayla live in Natchez, part of his farming operations are in Concordia Parish. This farm couple is the picture perfect example of young farmers today; dedicated, hardworking and willing to do what it takes to keep the family on the farm. The guy’s also a pilot and we took time to talk airplanes.
In visiting with Jason Holmes I found out he’s kind of the unofficial liaison (perhaps ambassador is the better word) for the poultry industry in Union Parish. As the county agent in Union, Jason has some awesome responsibility as he works to foster understanding and good will between the poultry growers and the integrators. And because Union Parish is the No. 1 poultry-producing parish in the state, he always has his work cut out for him. And he’s really part of the AgCenter family. His wife Lisa is a 4-H agent in Webster Parish.
Brad Judice, the operations manager for Judice Planting LLC in New Iberia, is a guy who always has a smile on his face. Given the current price of sugar…well, maybe that’s not the only reason, but the guy is really easy-going. Brad’s been farming for the last seven years and has seen the ups and downs of the sugar industry. At 31 he’s definitely one of the up and comers in the sugar industry.
I got to know Russell Kent through his wife Amelia Levin Kent. Amelia is a graduate of AgLeadership Class XI (There’s that legacy aspect again). The Kents were the Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture winners in 2011. Although he’s a loan officer for First South Farm Credit, Russell is the consummate cattleman. No one knows more about cattle than he does. And that bodes well for a guy who makes farm loans. The more you understand farmers and ranchers, the better you’re able to service their needs. Russell’s a guy who can definitely walk the walk and talk the talk.
Kevin LaCour admits he doesn’t know who T.H. Harris was, but that didn’t stop him from receiving a diploma from the technical college that bears his name. The 33-year-old grain farmer from Moreauville also admits that despite his degree in diesel mechanics, today’s farm equipment is more complex than ever. “Some of the older equipment I can still work on, but the new stuff has so many computer components that it’s difficult without a technician,” he said.
LaCour has been farming since 2000 and is a third generation farmer. Last year was a little tough for him. The dry conditions reduced his corn crop by 50 percent, while his soybean crop took a 25 percent hit. But LaCour is undeterred. It was George LaCour (possibly a very distant relative) who urged Kevin to sign up for AgLeadership. George, who’s also an AgLeadership alum, sets a high standard. But I thing Kevin can handle it.
In the first few minutes of my visit with Kyle Lemoine it’s evident the young man truly loves farming. After eight years in the banking business he left the corporate world to farm fulltime with his father. He said during his time as an ag lender for the Cottonport Bank in Moreauville, he saw agriculture “from both sides of the ledger.” That’s made him more frugal as he and his dad work more than 1,600 acres of grain and cotton.
He and his wife Ashley have a five-year-old son Bryce. There’s no doubt Bryce will one day take over the family farm which dates back more than four generations. “He’s already driving the grain cart,” Kyle said. “He’s my shadow.”
Until next time…