LSU Ag Economics and Agribusiness Alumni Association Honors Louisiana Farm Bureau Employee as Outstanding Alumnus

by Allie Doise, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation

Kyle McCann, center, associate commodity director for the Louisiana Farm Bureau, was named as the 2016 Outstanding Alumnus recipient at the annual LSU Ag Economics and Agribusiness Alumni Recognition Ceremony. He is pictured here with his wife Daphane, right, and his son James, left.

As he received the LSU Ag Economics and Agribusiness Outstanding Alumnus Award, Kyle McCann said he felt his story come full circle. 

McCann, associate commodity director for the Louisiana Farm Bureau, was named as the 2016 recipient at the annual LSU Ag Economics and Agribusiness Alumni Recognition Ceremony.  McCann was surprised when he found out he was the recipient of this award and said it is truly an honor.

“I really appreciate the award,” McCain said. “It means so much to me because of who it came from.”

McCann received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural business at Louisiana Tech University. He then went on to earn his master’s degree in agricultural economics at Louisiana State University, with a thesis on post-harvest strategies for soybeans.  McCann said he felt like earned a lot more than master’s degree from LSU.

“Overcoming the challenges and successfully completing the program was very rewarding,” McCann said. “But the life lessons learned during that period have proven invaluable to me.”

He said those life lessons came at one of the toughest, but most rewarding periods in his life.

“While the M.S. program definitely challenges a person, the loss of my father during that time added to the difficulty,” McCann said. “With a lot of support from family and friends, including some professors in the department that would continue to have a major influence in my life, I not only made it through the toughest time in my life but grew immensely from it.”

When McCann reflected on his time at LSU, he said he earned a lot more than master’s degree.

“Overcoming the challenges and successfully completing the program was very rewarding,” McCann said. “But the life lessons learned during that period have proven invaluable to me.”

After graduation, McCann began working for the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, a career that has lasted 28 years now. He said the organization should be credited for him being selected for this honor.

“Since I've been at Farm Bureau my entire career, I would say this organization has everything to do with me receiving this recognition,” McCann said. “It has all occurred because of the work this organization does and all it’s involved in, I am just a part of it.”

McCann said his position at Louisiana Farm Bureau has given him the opportunity to work with a lot of individuals and organizations on very diverse issues. He feels fortunate to be a part of that process and to be able to work on issues of importance to Louisiana agriculture.

“I've been blessed to work with a lot of wonderful people and a great organization whose combined efforts have accomplished many things over the years,” McCann said. “I greatly appreciate the recognition of my involvement and efforts in those accomplishments.”

Since his graduation, McCann has been an active member of the LSU Ag Economics and Agribusiness Alumni Association. He stays in contact with the ag department at LSU daily. McCann said it’s vital to the work he does daily, and is fortunate to remain so close to his roots.

If one thing is evident from McCann, it is that he is truly humbled to be this year’s recipient of the LSU Outstanding Alumnus Award.

“I feel more honored than deserving in receiving a recognition from an institution that has meant so much to me both personally and professionally,” McCann said. 

The LSU Outstanding Alumnus Award is an award voted on by the Alumni Association and Department faculty.